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Kevin Sinfield was welcomed by hundreds of people at Portman Road stadium at the end of day one of his ultramarathon challenge [George King/BBC]
Ex-rugby league star Kevin Sinfield said he was "overwhelmed" as hundreds of people cheered for him at the finish of his first of seven ultramarathons in seven days in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) research.
Sinfield, 45, started his run from Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, Suffolk, at 08:40 GMT and finished at about 15:00 at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich.
He is running in tribute to former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart, who lives with the condition.
After his first run, Sinfield said he was tired and in need of a bath, but ready to go again on Tuesday.
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Stewart (left) cheered Sinfield (right) on as he entered Portman Road stadium near the South Stand [PA Media]
"You're overwhelmed, aren't you?" he said of the moment he ran into Portman Road.
"You think I'm here just to do a bit of running with some mates and running for a mate, lots of other mates.
"People believe in it, and there's a real community feel.
"I'm overwhelmed, and it's not lost on me the support that we get."
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Kevin Sinfield set off from Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club on the first day of his 7 in 7 challenge [PA Media]
Sinfield said that while the weather conditions had been tough, "the people had made it" for him, and he was pleased Stewart received support and praise as he waited at the finish line.
He added that it was important for the wider MND community to see that kind of support as well.
"People vote with their feet and have done on these challenges for some time," he continued.
"We've seen that roadside after roadside and location after location, it's very special."
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George Burley was in attendance at the finish at Portman Road to support Stewart and Sinfield [George King/BBC]
Ipswich Town legend George Burley was also in attendance and said he hoped Sinfield's efforts would help toward research for MND.
"I think everybody in Britain and the world wants people to get better, get healthier," he said.
"MND is something close to my heart with Marcus Stewart.
"Marcus has been my player for years and years, and I've got really close to him.
"It's great to see so many people from Ipswich coming out on this cold wintry day."
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Marcus Stewart was a professional footballer for 20 years [BBC]
Speaking before Sinfield set off, Stewart said he was glad he was able to support them.
"I'm glad I'm here. It's taken me four hours yesterday to get here, but these guys are going to be on the road for seven days in all sorts of weather, so it's the least I can do," Stewart said.
"The people of Suffolk have been amazing for me, and they've been brilliant today for these guys," he added.
Throughout the day, Sinfield made in Rougham, Woolpit, Stowmarket, Needham Market, Great Blakenham and Ipswich, and he was pictured by many members who shared his journey on social media.
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Sinfield is running through Suffolk as part of his first of seven ultramarathons in seven days [Jamie Niblock/BBC]
What is the 7 in 7 Challenge?
Sinfield was inspired by, and continues to run in memory of, his former Leeds teammate, Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed in 2019 and died, aged 41, in June 2024.
He is pounding the streets on seven routes in the UK and Ireland over seven days, from Monday 1 to Sunday 7 December, to raise money and awareness for those impacted by MND.
The challenge, known as 7 in 7: Together, will see Sinfield running an ultramarathon of at least 45km (27.9 miles) each day, in bursts of 7km (4.3 miles).
Each day is in honour of a local personality who has championed the cause, and, as in previous challenges, includes an extra-mile event when Sinfield joins members of the MND community.
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Crowds braved the cold and wet to cheer on Sinfield as he set off [Jamie Niblock/BBC]
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
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