The late Doddie Weir's wife and son have joined former England rugby captain Lewis Moody as he embarks on a 505-mile fundraising cycling challenge for motor neurone disease (MND) research. Moody, who revealed his own MND diagnosis last autumn, set off from Newcastle Red Bulls stadium on a seven-day ride to deliver the match ball for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final between Northampton and Exeter at Twickenham.
Family Support on the Road
Kathy Weir, Doddie's widow, and their son Hamish joined Moody and his son Dylan for an 80-mile leg on Sunday. Moody's wife Annie and son Ethan are expected to participate later in the week alongside other rugby stars. Moody expressed his gratitude: "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."
Fundraising for MND Research
The challenge raises money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, founded by Weir in 2017 before his death in November 2022 at age 52. Moody emphasized the importance of the cause: "There’s still a huge amount of work to be done when it comes to MND. That’s why we’re doing this ride – to raise as much money and awareness as possible." The Lewis Moody XV Cycle Challenge has already raised £235,000. Donations can be made at lewismoodyxv-cyclechallenge.com or myname5doddie.com.
