Former England captain Lewis Moody said it was a “joy” to reunite with his team-mates as he finished a 500-mile fundraising cycle for motor neurone disease research.
Moody, who was diagnosed with MND last September, completed his seven-day ride at Twickenham on Saturday where he crossed the finish line at Allianz Stadium accompanied by his wife Annie and sons Dylan and Ethan.
The 2003 World Cup winner set off from Newcastle last Sunday and the challenge has raised more than £500,000 so far for Doddie Weir’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Former Scotland forward Weir died of MND in 2022, aged 52, and his charity has raised more than £23.5million in aid of research into the disease.
Former Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow lived with MND for more than four years before he died in 2024, aged 41, and his former team-mate Sir Kevin Sinfield has raised over £11m for MND causes in tribute to his close friend.
During the ride, Moody was reunited with former England team-mates including Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Martin Corry.
Speaking after finishing the challenge, Moody said: “It’s meant the world to me to see the level of support we’ve had all along the route.
“When you’re part of a team, it’s about standing up for each other, and while 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 team-mates – 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 neurone disease.”
Former internationals Kenny Logan, Geordan Murphy, Louis Deacon and Joe Worsley were also among the support team which has accompanied Moody all the way.
Moody said: “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.
“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.”
:: Anyone who wishes to donate can find out more at lewismoodyxv-cyclechallenge.com or myname5doddie.com.
