Doddie Weir's family join rugby legends on 500-mile charity challenge
Last updated 22 hours ago
The family of Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir have joined a host of rugby legends on a 500-mile cycling challenge to raise funds to help find a cure for motor neurone disease.
The seven-day ride set off from Newcastle – one of the late Scotland star's former clubs – on their way to Twickenham, to deliver the match ball ahead of this weekend's Gallagher PREM Rugby Final.
Doddie's wife, Kathy, and son, Hamish, are supporting former England captain, and 2003 World Cup-winner, Lewis Moody, who announced his own diagnosis with the disease last year.
Hundreds of people from across the North East - including England fast bowler Mark Wood – turned out to wave the team off.
Among the rugby stars joining them on sections of the route are World Cup winners Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson.
Speaking at the start line, Moody said: “To have the two families come together under the My Name’5 Doddie banner is wicked. Hamish is a bundle of joy to ride with – and the image of his dad – and Kathy is an absolute machine.
"We've got a bonkers group of people on this ride with me and, despite everything, there are plenty of reasons to smile this morning.
"It was amazing to see such a reception in Newcastle and a huge thank you to everyone who came out to support us. It means a huge amount to all of us and we hope to see as many people as possible along the route."
More than £200,000 has already been raised for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which Doddie set-up after revealing his own MND diagnosis in 2017.
Since then, the charity has committed more than £23.5 million towards research into effective treatments and finding a cure.
"There's still a huge amount of work to be done when it comes to MND," Moody added. "That's why we're doing this ride – to raise as much money and awareness as possible.
"There's more hope than there has ever been. Specialists quietly talk about being in a hopeful place because of the energy that Doddie brought to this fight. He wanted change and he wanted it now – and I'm exactly the same.”
Over the next six days, riders will travel through Ripon, Worksop, Oakham, Leicester, Worcester, Gloucester, Bath and Bracknell before arriving at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, where they will deliver the match ball ahead of the Gallagher PREM Rugby Final.
For Moody, the challenge is about more than the physical demands of cycling 500 miles. It is also an opportunity to continue the momentum created by Weir and help accelerate research towards effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for MND.
He added: "MND is a global issue. It's not confined to rugby and we want to bring as many people as possible into this cause because every pound raised helps drive progress.
"There are a million ways people can help – come out and support the riders, spread the word, or dig deep and donate. MND is not incurable, it's underfunded, and every pound raised pushes us closer to our goal."
For more on the ride, and to donate, visit lewismoodyxv-cyclechallenge.com or myname5doddie.com.