Lewis Moody arrived to a hero’s welcome at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium as the former England captain completed a 500-mile charity cycling challenge that has already raised more than £500,000 in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND).
Moody was diagnosed with MND last year but embarked on a remarkable physical feat in the run-up to the top flight decider between Northampton and Exeter, weaving around the country alongside a large band of former teammates, friends and family members.
The former flanker’s route wound down from Newcastle via his former clubs Leicester and Bath, with the final leg embarking from Bracknell RFC, where Moody’s rugby journey began as a five-year-old. He then delivered the match ball ahead of kick off.
Fellow World Cup winners including Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson joined him along the way, with the final finishers celebrating with trays of beer and champagne after pulling up outside the Rose and Poppy Gates just before midday on Prem final day.
In amongst the rugby legends were Moody’s wife Annie and sons Dylan and Ethan, who shared emotional hugs after the completion of the ride for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
“Throughout this ride, we’ve met so many people living with motor neurone disease at different stages of progression, and for me and my family to see that is hard, but you have to front up to the reality of the disease, because it is a difficult disease,” Moody said.
“But there is hope in this space now, because of the work Doddie did, because of the work Rob Burrow did, and because of the work I want to do, but hope is meaningless without action, and that’s why we’re here, and that’s why we need everybody from all walks of life to front up too.
“I don’t want to be the person that everybody is here for – because of my diagnosis – but strange though it sounds, it is a privilege to be in this position.
“We are here to raise as much money as possible to make as big a difference as possible and we’ll do that through My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.”
While plenty of players signed up for the duration, other individuals elected to move plans to stay in the peloton for a gruelling, but highly rewarding, ride.
Past Leicester and England colleagues including Tom Croft and Martin Corry were right behind Moody as he finished, while the broadcaster Jill Douglas, a patron of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, soon arrived with two bottles of fizz.
The former Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir passed away in 2022 six years after being diagnosed with MND. Since its formation, his foundation has committed more than £23.5m towards research into effective treatments and a cure for the disease,
“It’s meant the world to me to see the level of support we’ve had all along the route,” Moody added.
“When you’re part of a team, it’s about standing up for each other, and whilst it’s a tough reason for us all to come together – my diagnosis – they’re desperate to help me, my family, and the Foundation get to where we need to.
“It’s been a joy to come together with all my teammates – we don’t get to do it very often – and it’s been fantastic to all come together to try and help us tackle motor neuron disease.”
For more information, or to donate, visit lewismoodyxv-cyclechallenge.com or myname5doddie.co.uk.
