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Kevin Sinfield set off from Workington's Fibrus stadium for the fifth leg of his challenge [BBC]
Hundreds of supporters gathered at the start line of the fifth leg of rugby league star Kevin Sinfield's ultramarathon challenge.
The former player is running seven ultramarathons in seven days as part of his 7 in 7 Together Challenge, in memory of former teammate Rob Burrow, who had motor neuron disease (MND).
He set off at about 08:45 GMT from Workington's RLFC's Fibrus Stadium in Cumbria, together with Carlisle-born Steve Borthwick, head coach of the rugby union England national team.
Sinfield, who had played at the Workington stadium about 20 years ago, said he was looking forward to the day which is due to end at Whitehaven's rugby league club.
"It's a great part of the world up here, they are big supporters of rugby," he said.
Borthwick said it was wonderful to be back in his home county and said Sinfield was "an inspiration".
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Steve Borthwick is originally from Carlisle and is running alongside Sinfield [BBC]
"The people of Cumbria are wonderful people and so many here here today, coming to start the run off, which is tremendous," he said.
He added he would do his "very best" to keep up with the former Leeds Rhinos player, who has raised more than £10m over the last few years for motor neurone disease.
Raughton farmer Richard Messenger, who has MND, said the challenge was important not just for raising awareness of the condition but also to fund research.
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Farmer Richard Messenger banged the drum at the start line in Workington [BBC]
He told BBC Breakfast: "Research is the crucial element to stop other families suffering the way mine has."
He said his local Young Farmers' branch had raised about £60,000 in the last 18 months for the cause.
Alison Burbury, head of the branch, said: "[Sinfield] is just incredible - the passion and the drive to do such a thing, he's an inspiration to a lot of people."
Mr Messenger was at the start line and beat the drum seven times to mark the start of the challenge.
The number seven was the shirt number of Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 aged 41.
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