Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has shared a candid health update following his motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis. The 47-year-old, who captained his country to Rugby World Cup glory in 2003, revealed in October last year that he had been diagnosed with MND after noticing weakness in his shoulder during a gym session.
What is MND?
Motor neurone disease targets the motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, stiffness, and paralysis. Over time, it affects a person's ability to walk, talk, swallow, and breathe. While treatments can slow the disease's progression, there is currently no cure.
Charity bike ride for MND research
In a bid to raise funds for MND research, Moody is tackling a 500-mile charity cycling challenge alongside Kathy Weir, wife of the late Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir, and their eldest son, Hamish Weir. Doddie was diagnosed with MND in 2016 and established the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation in 2017. Since then, the charity has donated more than £23.5 million towards research into effective treatments and a cure.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday (10 June) ahead of the charity cycle, Moody appeared alongside Hamish Weir. He told presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay: "For me, I feel like I have arrived in this MND space in a much more hopeful one than maybe Doddie because of the amazing work Doddie did."
He continued: "Although the diagnosis is a horrible thing to hear, when you start speaking to the experts, they start whispering hope and that there is something around the corner." Moody added: "For me, hope is great, but actually, how do we move from hope? Hope is one thing, but it doesn't produce outcomes for the sick people diagnosed with MND. It's about moving from hope to action. MND isn't incurable, it's just underfunded."
Health update
Updating viewers on his health, Moody admitted he is in a "good state," though it hasn't been "easy." He shared: "I'm still in a good state, progression has been slow. There are little things you notice in the hand, so my progression started on my shoulder and continued in my arm, but it hasn't affected me enough that I've had to change anything at the moment."
He added emotionally: "I've always been positive, I've always been upbeat, and I'll remain so as the changes happen, I suppose me and the family will adapt. It's not easy, but if you approach with the right mindset, it remains easier, and I can only tell you now that I'm in a good spot and I'm looking forward to the bike ride. I hope that I can get through every single mile - I don't know if I will, but the intent is there. I couldn't be more proud doing this with such incredible people."
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
