England’s former rugby captain Lewis Moody is embarking on a 500-mile (804km) bike ride to raise awareness around Motor Neurone Disease (MND) following his own diagnosis.
The 48-year-old, along with more than a dozen rugby players, friends and family, set off from Newcastle Red Bulls’ stadium for Rugby HQ in Twickenham.
Moody paid tribute to George “Doddie” Weir, who played for the Red Bulls and died from MND in 2022. He said the efforts of MND campaigners such as Kevin Sinfield meant there was hope that the discovery of a cure was getting closer.
MND is a rare neurological condition which affects the brain and spinal cord, and can affect a person’s ability to talk, walk and breathe.
The Lewis Moody XV Challenge, which is raising money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, will see the team stop off in Durham, before travelling to Ripon Rugby Club on the first leg of the challenge.
They will then visit all five of Moody’s former clubs, including Leicester Tigers and Bath, before arriving in Twickenham on Thursday.
