The Nuke says it’s high time charity hero Kevin Sinfield gets a knighthood for his charity work afer rugby league pal Rub Burrow was struck down with motor neurone disease
Luke Littler is backing the Daily Star’s campaign to give charity hero Kevin Sinfield a knighthood. The teen darts sensation hailed the rugby ace – who has raised more than £10million in a bid to find a cure for motor neurone disease – ‘absolutely brilliant’.
Luke, 18, said he will be watching Kevin’s bid to run seven 31-mile ultra-marathons in seven days between his preparations to start the defence of his world darts championship title on December 11.
It will be the sixth time Sinfield has completed the gruelling slog in honour of his pal and former Great Britain and Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow who died of the debilitating condition last year aged 41. The rugby league ace has pledged to do it all again next year for a seventh time – matching the number Rob wore on his shirts – and vowed to carry on raising cash for the cause for the rest of his life.
Luke started donating his prize money to the Motor Neurone Disease Association inspired by Kevin’s heart-tugging bond with Rob who he famously carried over the Leeds Marathon finishing line in 2023 after pushing him round the 26.2 mile course in a specially adapted wheelchair.
The Daily Star has launched a campaign for Kevin’s selfless fund-raising to be rewarded with a knighthood – one of the highest honours available in Britain. Nearly 50,000 Brits have signed an online petition backing the move.
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell and Commons’ speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also support it and have raised it with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Now Luke has added his backing. Speaking ahead of the draw for the first round of the world darts championship the teen star said he would ‘definitely’ back our campaign for Kevin to become a sir.
“I will be supporting it all the way,” Luke said. “He’s doing seven marathons. He has been doing it for years on years now. Obviously I will show my support. I’ll have a little watch if I can.
“What Kevin’s done is absolutely brilliant. He is going to obviously continue it and continue it.”
Asked if fancied joining Kevin, 45, on one of his marathons laughing Luke looked down at his belly. “Do I look in shape?” he joked. “Maybe it would be too much.”
Motor neurone disease is a progressive neurological condition which damages the nerves controlling muscles leading to weakness and wasting.
The condition has claimed the lives of a host of big names including Rob, who battled it for five years, and theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Professor Hawking who died in 2018 aged 76.
Other victims include James Bond actor David Niven, Leeds United and England manager Don Revie, Scotland rugby union ace Doddie Weir, singer Roberta Flack, blues music veteran Lead Belly, legendary jazz bassist Charles Mingus and 2008 Portsmouth FA Cup winner Papa Bouba Diop.
England 2003 rugby union World Cup winner Lewis Moody, 47, former national team captain Ed Slater, 37, and Sunderland and Ipswich Town footballer Marcus Stewart, 53, are among around 5,000 people in the UK believed to be currently fighting the condition.
Luke launched his support for the fight for a cure by wearing the Motor Neurone Disease Association’s logo during BetMGM Premier League matches last season.
The Warrington Wolves supporter said then: “Being a rugby league fan I’ve seen the amazing fundraising work done for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, particularly by Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield in recent years.
“The MND Association are doing so much important work and when I found out that I had a space available to support a charity on my shirt I wanted to back them.”
Luke donated £10,000 to the charity last month after winning the World Grand Prix darts tournament. Sinfield was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to rugby league and an OBE in 2021 for charitable fundraising. But so far a knighthood has passed him by to the outrage of legions of sports fans.
According to a change.org petition calling for the honour: “We need to publicly appreciate people like Kevin – he embodies teamwork, not only on the field for Leeds Rhinos, but more so off the field with his absolute dedication to raise awareness and money for Rob Burrow and others suffering from MND.
“The words legend and hero are often handed out, but on this occasion they are totally fitting for this bloke.
“A knighthood is exactly what Kevin Sinfield deserves. Let’s spread some light and happiness – sign the petition to properly recognise ‘Sir Kev’ for his efforts.”