Sunlight pours into Lewis Moody's conservatory near Bath as he shares a sofa with his dog, Ziggy, who has traded his usual lively energy for a peaceful nap. Moody has just described how Ziggy licked away tears from his and his wife Annie's faces when they told their teenage sons about his motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis. Now, he offers a remarkable perspective.
'It is a gift and a privilege,' says the 48-year-old former rugby international, reflecting on the lesson from his diagnosis last October. 'MND helps you understand what you love and what makes you happy. You learn to apply your time purposefully, spending it with loved ones and helping others.'
Moody, who earned 71 caps for England and won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, speaks with calm clarity that belies his old nickname 'Mad Dog.' Despite the disease's grim prognosis, he maintains positivity. 'The present is all you have,' he says. 'Yesterday is dead, tomorrow isn't born; there is only now.'
Since diagnosis, Moody has focused on financial security for his family and deciding how to share the news positively. He recently returned from Cyprus, where he watched his eldest son, Dylan, play for England Under-18s. Moody looks fit and tanned, though he notes slight diminished finger strength. 'I can still do everything. I have to manage energy and sleep more, but the disease is moving slowly.'
Moody discovered his condition after persistent shoulder weakness. He prepared himself for the diagnosis after a doctor mentioned MND as a possibility. 'I cried then because I'd almost told myself it was MND. When the specialist confirmed it, I wasn't surprised, but it was still horrible.'
Regarding prognosis, Moody acknowledges the statistics: 10% of patients don't last a year, 50% don't last two years. But he notes that 40% survive longer, citing Stephen Hawking and others living with MND for years. 'The only certainty in MND is that it's uncertain.'
Telling his sons was difficult. His youngest, Ethan, initially wailed but later asked for full information. 'The more information we gave him, the more he could process it rationally,' Moody explains. He emphasizes that statistics don't necessarily apply to him.
This Sunday, Moody will join friends and former teammates, including Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson, and Julian White, for a five-day cycle from Newcastle to Twickenham. The ride raises money for Doddie Weir's foundation, aiming for £777,777 in honor of Moody's jersey number. 'Julian's never ridden a bike without tractor tires,' Moody jokes of the farmer and former prop.
Despite a weakened hand, Moody has adjusted his bike for comfort. 'The only thing I've noticed is fatigue in the shoulders, so I've adjusted the handlebars and seat. It's a big arse, so it's fine.' He stresses that avoiding over-exertion is key, but the ride is an opportunity to reconnect with old friends.
Moody, who suffered multiple concussions during his career, doesn't blame rugby for his condition. 'I loved rugby and knew the risks. I can't look back and wish I'd changed that. But concussion protocols have improved wonderfully.' He supports his youngest son playing rugby.
Driven by the urgent need for research, Moody feels lucky to arrive at a more hopeful time thanks to advocates like Weir, Burrow, and Ed Slater. 'I feel like I've been given this baton by your boys, by Doddie, by Rob, and I need to get this over the line.' He believes a cure is near with more funding. 'MND is not incurable; it's just underfunded.'
Reflecting on personal change, Moody says, 'I don't think I've changed, but how I view things has. I'm more focused, clearer, and ready to get a better version of myself.' He finds purpose in adversity. 'The times I felt really alive were during the greatest adversity. For me, there's probably no greater adversity than what I'm facing now.'
