MND is destroying lives.

MND first came to my attention when Springbok legend, Joost van der Westhuizen, was diagnosed in 2011 and subsequently died from it in 2017.

I watched from afar as my former team-mate, Mike Crisp, bravely battled it and the high-profile cases of Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir and more recently Ed Slater have raised more awareness of this cruellest of diseases.

It's with this in mind that I will be supporting the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, the 4ED campaign and The Freddie Crisp Trust during this year's Great Rugger Run - a 1,000km run from rugby club to rugby club from the West of Wales to the West Country - A Million Metres for MND!

All details can be found on https://thegreatruggerrun.org/

MY NAME'5 DODDIE FOUNDATION

Doddie Weir OBE is one of rugby’s most recognisable personalities. He earned 61 caps for Scotland during a successful playing career, represented the British and Irish Lions on their successful tour to South Africa in 1997, and won championships with his two club sides, Melrose and Newcastle Falcons.

A talented, committed and athletic lock forward, Doddie is now facing his biggest challenge. In June 2017 the Scot revealed he was suffering from Motor Neuron Disease. From the outset, Doddie has been driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease.

Driven by his frustration at the lack of progress in the treatment of MND and the absence of options for those given this awful diagnosis, Doddie and his Trustees established the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, launched at Murrayfield ahead of the Scotland v New Zealand match in November 2017. We have a clear vision: A World Free of MND.

To date, My Name'5 Doddie Foundation has committed over £6.5 million to research and over £1.5 million to support families living with MND.

https://www.myname5doddie.co.uk/

4ED CAMPAIGN

In July 2022 Gloucester Rugby player Ed Slater announced his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The 4Ed campaign has been created to raise awareness and funds in support of Ed and his family’s battle with the disease.

Please note: 4Ed is not a charity. Any money raised will go to Ed either directly or via the Gloucester Rugby Foundation.

I will be collecting cash donations for the 4ED Campaign when I reach Gloucester.

https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/4ed

THE FREDDIE CRISP TRUST

I will be collecting cash donations for The Freddie Crisp Trust when I reach Cheltenham.