Latest news with #MyName5DoddieFoundation
The Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ally McCoist sets off on gruelling charity ride around Ireland despite his bike BREAKING DOWN just days before
ALLY McCOIST is back in the saddle for his latest charity cycle event – but only after dealing with a few worrying mechanical issues first! The Scotland and Rangers icon headed off from Belfast this morning to take on the 555-mile, six-day ride around Ireland as part of the Doddie'5 Lions Challenge. 5 5 5 Joining McCoist in the fundraising effort are Scotland rugby great Kenny Logan, his wife and broadcaster, Gabby, former rugby stars Mel Deane and Will Greene and actor Jamie Bamber. The group will cover up to 100 miles a day in memory of Scotland legend Doddie Weir, who sadly passed away in 2022, and to raise money for research into motor neurone disease. So far, the challenge has raised more than £300,000 for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, with hopes of hitting the £500,000 mark before the final leg. The ride will finish in Dublin on Friday where the team will deliver the match ball to the Aviva Stadium ahead of the British and Irish Lions' clash with Argentina. Logan says McCoist – who also took part in the 2023 charity cycle from Edinburgh to Paris - will fill the role again of trying to keep everyone's spirits up during the gruelling ordeal. But he revealed his close pal nearly never made it all – because he kept fiddling with his bike's settings! Logan said: 'Ally's been out and about but his bike broke down the other day. 'I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears – someone else needs to do that for him! 'We've lost a few to injury and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. 'I'm not going to lie – I've had my own aches and pains. Rangers legend Ally McCoist labelled 'Scotland's James Bond' as he takes an Easter dip in freezing cold loch 'No major injuries thankfully, but I've definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn't be moving this much at my age! 'I'm most nervous about the hills. 'I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it's definitely not. But nerves are good. 'I've always had them before a big challenge, and it means I care.' This year's event is both a tribute to Weir and a rallying cry to continue his legacy. 5 5 Logan added: 'The support's been incredible. 'We've still got time to push, and every penny counts. 'Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively – but we still need to fund research. 'The Foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it's only the beginning. 'Doddie would be proud – but he'd be telling us to go further and faster. 'That's why we're doing this.' Seven Scots are in the Lions squad for the tour after Zander Fagerson withdrew due to injury. Logan admits he's disappointed winger Darcy Graham never got the nod – but thinks there might be time yet for the Edinburgh flier to make the plane to Australia. He added: 'I still think Darcy will go – there's a lot of rugby to be played between now and then, and there will be injuries. 'We've seen that with Zander missing out already. 'Overall it's great to see so many Scots in the squad – they'll be out to make their mark in Australia and put down a marker for the Test team.' All funds raised will support the Foundation's mission to find effective treatments – and ultimately a cure – for motor neurone disease.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celebrities embark on 555-mile cycle for MND research and deliver Lions match ball
A team of celebrities and rugby players are preparing for a 555-mile cycle challenge around the island of Ireland to raise funds for research into motor neurone disease (MND) in memory of the late Doddie Weir. Weir died of MND aged 52 in November 2022, after years of campaigning to raise awareness of the condition and funds into research. Scottish rugby legend Kenny Logan and his television presenter wife Gabby are among those preparing to take part in Doddie'5 Lions Challenge, cycling around 100 miles a day for six days, departing from Belfast on Sunday. The team will cycle through counties including Galway, Limerick and Cork, to arrive in Dublin on June 20 and deliver the match ball to the Aviva Stadium for the British and Irish Lions' 1888 Cup clash with Argentina. Some participants have had to pull out due to injury, including Weir's son Hamish, who will instead drive a support vehicle, while Scotland rugby stars Bryan Redpath and Hugo Southwell, and ex-Lions and Ireland international Rob Henderson, will also no longer be able to take part. Football legend Ally McCoist, actor Jamie Bamber, former Harlequins player Mel Deane, and cancer campaigner Iain Ward will all take part alongside the Logans. The challenge has raised more than £300,000 for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association so far, with hopes of reaching £500,000 before Sunday. Kenny Logan will lead the team, and he has been doing intensive hill sessions on an exercise bike twice a week ahead of his second endurance fundraiser for MND research. He joined the Edinburgh to Paris cycle in 2023 which raised almost £1 million. He said: 'We've lost a few to injury, and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. I've had my own aches and pains. No major injuries thankfully but I've definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn't be moving this much at my age. 'I'm most nervous about the hills. I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it's definitely not. But nerves are good. I've always had them before a big challenge. 'The support's been incredible. We've still got time to push, and every penny counts. 'Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively – but we still need to fund research. The foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it's only the beginning. 'Doddie would be proud – but he'd be telling us to go further and faster. That's why we're doing this.' He joked that McCoist needed some help with bike maintenance. Logan said: 'Ally's been out and about, but his bike broke down the other day. I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears – someone else needs to do that for him.' Weir set up the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation in 2017, the year after he was diagnosed with MND. All funds raised form the cycle will support the foundation to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure for MND. To donate or learn more, visit
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Mail Sport Extreme: Logan ready to do it for Doddie - again - as former Scotland wing gets set to embark on cycle around Ireland
When the British and Irish Lions begin their first warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on Friday week, it's Doddie Weir who will be in the immediate thoughts of everyone involved. The lock, who passed away in November 2022 after a battle with motor neurone disease, is often remembered for his big smile, warming character and, now of course, for the work done by the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation in fundraising to help find a cure for MND. Next week, Weir's former Scotland team-mate Kenny Logan, son Hamish, and a number of other names from the world of sport, including Ally McCoist, Will Green and broadcaster Gabby Logan, are taking on the challenge of cycling around Ireland, stopping off at some of the country's most famous Lions' origins clubs, and delivering the match ball to the Aviva Stadium as the Lions face the Pumas for the 1888 Cup. Cycling around 100 miles a day is a challenge that Logan and Co are not taking lightly, however he admits that Weir himself would expect more. He says: 'I can hear Doddie now joking: 'Only 100 miles a day? Why not 200?' I think he'd be proud, but not as proud as we are of him for turning his diagnosis into a lifeline for other people. He never did this for himself. 'We keep pushing because of everything he did for the MND community. We're working towards that day when someone turns around and says: 'We've done it, there's a cure for MND.' That's when we'll celebrate.' This is not the first time that Logan has taken on an endurance challenge to raise funds in the fight against MND. In 2023, he was part of a group of fundraisers in a cycling and walking challenge from Edinburgh to Paris ahead of the World Cup launch. Though this time around it is fully on the bike, the 53-year-old can't wait to get started. 'One minute I'm buzzing, the next I'm nervous,' he admits. 'I think everyone's a bit nervous from all the chat in the WhatsApp group about wind, rain and hills! But the nerves and tension are good - it sharpens you. We just need to keep reminding ourselves why we're doing this. '(The) My Name'5 Doddie Foundation is one of the charity partners for the British and Irish Lions and we're raising money for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) as well as MNDF. 'Doddie was a proud British and Irish Lion so this ride is our tribute: to him, what he stood for and everything he achieved. 'We'll be delivering the match ball at the 1888 Cup in Dublin for the British & Irish Lions vs Argentina which will be a special moment for all of us. It brings everything full circle. 'It's simple: the more we raise, the quicker we can get to a cure. Every pound counts towards vital research. MND shouldn't be an incurable disease, it's an underfunded one and we're here to support My Name'5 Doddie Foundation to help change that for all the people that have - and will get - MND.' Thoughts inevitably turn to the previous challenge and Weir. Passing through the rugby heartlands of Ireland, it's likely that Logan and his fellow cyclists will face all sorts of emotional stories and moments en route to completing this challenge, though none might compare to one from the previous trip. 'In 2023, we walked and cycled - and that combination nearly broke me. This time it's full-on cycling, we'll be covering 100 miles a day,' adds Logan. 'Hopefully minus the snow, but with Irish weather - even in June - you never know! The forecast looks quite good, but it could all change as we know too well. 'We came down a hill in France, above the clouds, and this yellow and blue balloon just appeared out of nowhere. I thought someone had arranged it - they hadn't. It was one of those moments where you felt like Doddie was with us. 'It's about hardship, yes, but more than that it's about the people. We started as strangers, but by the end we were team-mates. That's what the Lions are all about - and it's what Doddie was all about too.' In the here and now, Logan feels it is 'no question' that Finn Russell starts at No10 for the Lions. Though Zander Fagerson has been ruled out through injury, the former wing suggests there could have been room for one or two more Scots on Tour than the initial eight selected. He says: 'Absolutely brilliant (to have eight Scots selected). We're unlucky to not have 10 players, the likes of Jamie Ritchie and Darcy Graham, but I'm pleased for the rest of the boys. They've earned their place to play with some of the best players in the UK. I can't wait to cheer them on.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edinburgh golfer set for 'bold and brilliant' challenge in honour of late rugby star
An Edinburgh man is playing 25 rounds of golf over five days in honour of a late rugby star who died of motor neurone disease (MND). George "Doddie" Weir, a Scottish rugby union player, died in 2022, aged 52. Inspired by the star's struggle, Graeme Smeaton aims to raise £25,000 for MND research through the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, a charity launched in the nickname of the player. Mr Smeaton will walk a total of 125 miles, hit over 2,000 shots, and will have less than 25 hours of sleep over the five days. He will be joined by former Scotland rugby internationals John Barclay, Andy Irvine, and Roger Baird will join him across the week to keep pace and morale high. In memory of Doddie, he will wear Royal and Awesome's limited-edition Doddie tartan, 15 per cent of each sale goes to the charity. READ MORE: Huge delays on Edinburgh Bypass as drivers urged to 'use caution' READ MORE: 'Our Edinburgh scheme has a reputation for being tough - but it's misunderstood' Graeme Smeaton, founder of Royal & Awesome golf, takes on the challenge from June 2-6. His JustGiving page had already amassed over £2,000 in donations by Monday morning. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox The rounds will be played on East Lothian courses Gullane, Luffness, Kilspindie and Longniddry. Ahead of the feat, Mr Smeaton said: "These courses are where I fell in love with golf. "So to take on this challenge here, for a cause as meaningful as My Name'5 Doddie Foundation's feels incredibly special. I'm aiming to raise £25,000 but the main goal is to raise awareness of the incredible work the Foundation does to raise vital funds for MND research. "This is nothing compared to what people living with MND go through every day. I just want to do my bit - and hopefully inspire donations along the way." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Also joining will be Doddie's son Hamish Weir and friends and family of MND campaigner Scott Stewart, who lost his battle with MND in December 2024. Paul Thompson, director of fundraising and communications at My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, said: "Graeme's challenge is bold, brilliant, and full of heart, exactly the kind of energy Doddie brought to life. "We're incredibly grateful for his support and can't wait to see him take on all 25 rounds. He's doing something extraordinary to help fund vital research and raise awareness of MND." Mr Smeaton will be posting about the challenge on his Instagram account. Find out more information on Graeme's JustGiving page here.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man with MND running marathon to inspire others
A former doctor with motor neurone disease (MND) is preparing to run a marathon as a way of "showing others what's possible". Andy Vaughton, from Poole in Dorset, was diagnosed with the condition in 2021. The 47-year-old is taking part in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - organised in memory of the rugby league footballer - on Sunday, and will be using slings to support his weakened arms. He is fundraising for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which was created by former Scottish rugby icon Doddie Weir and supports MND research and those affected by the condition. "This is about showing that it's still possible to do something meaningful with the time you have," Mr Vaughton said. "This is about more than finishing, it's about making memories and showing others what's possible." He said he knew there would be "dark moments" during the 26.2 mile (42km) run, but also knew he would have "people beside me". The former anaesthetist was diagnosed with the condition during the Covid-19 pandemic. "It was utterly devastating – your whole life collapses in on itself," he explained. "It affects everything – family, friends, work, the future you thought you had." Shortly after, the father-of-three received a call from British and Irish Lions legend Weir - who himself was living with MND. Mr Vaughton said the call was "life-changing". "Even though his voice was failing, he made time to talk. He told me to live in the moment, to stay positive. That call meant everything to me." Weir died from MND in 2022 but has lived on through his foundation - which Mr Vaughton's marathon has already raised more than £25,000 for. "My life crumbled around me, but I'm determined to live well for as long as possible," he said. "I have friends who've since passed away who weren't fortunate enough to get this time, so I have to make the most of it." There is no cure for MND, which affects about 5,000 adults in the UK, and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is two to three years, according to the MND Association. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Wait for motor neurone disease diagnosis 'so long' MND patient urges people to join new year parkrun My Name'5 Doddie Foundation Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
