The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
DODDIE’S BIG LEGACY
Ardnamurchan distillery,” says Rob, who lives on the island, working as a farmer and a volunteer firefighter.
“People made a huge effort to make the trip happen and that’s because it was Doddie.
“They wouldn’t do that for you or I but they would do it for Doddie because he was a very special character.
“Keith Wood (an Irish international former rugby player) even came up from the south-west of Ireland.
“I’ve got a picture of us all lined up outside the distillery.
“Doddie wasn’t able to drink any of the whisky but he was able to sniff it.
“He had a great day out and it was very special to us.”
FIGHTING FOR A CURE
Just a few months after the trip, on November 26 last year, Doddie died aged 52 after a six-year long battle with MND.
Speaking at his memorial service at Melrose Parish Church, Rob vowed to continue fundraising on his friend’s behalf.
“Doddie is so iconic that he’s inspired thousands of other people to go and do stuff to help solve this disease,” says Rob.
“Doddie’s not here anymore but we’re still helping him to sort it out.
“I got the opportunity at his memorial service to say we’ll carry the flame for him.”
Over the last two years Doddie Aid has seen over 30,000 participants cover four million miles and raise over £2 million for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the great man’s charity which is committed to raising funds to fight motor neurone disease with the vast amount of funds being invested in vital research.
“It’s an immensely satisfying thing to be involved with as it’s almost all run by volunteers,” says Rob.
“But this year we knew having lost Doddie that there was going to be a heightened interest in it and we got just shy of 37,500 people taking part which is amazing.
“I think everyone involved in it is enjoying it and I think it’s good for people’s physical and mental health and to be involved in this big virtual community.”
555-MILE CYCLE
Last week, Rob led a tenacious team of rugby legends on a 555-mile cycle from Wales to Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium to deliver the Six Nations match ball ahead of the Doddie Weir Cup.
As patron of Scottish Rugby Union and the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Princess Royal officially started the charity bike ride.
“We always finish Doddie Aid with a match ball ride, it’s a nice way to finish,” says Rob.
“It’s a gruelling ride but that’s the great thing about Doddie Aid as everyone can get involved – whether you want to do the cycle or do a dog walk, it all counts.
“And the support that we’ve had from so many people at the grassroots level has been massive.”
THE FIGHT GOES ON
Describing Doddie as a national icon, Rob says he will keep fighting on his behalf.
“Doddie is a national icon who has changed government policy and who inspires people to do all sorts of crazy things,” says Rob.
“One only needs to look now and see that there’s a Six Nations cup named after him, there’s a statue of him at Murrayfield. “He’s a guy that has garnered so much respect.”
LORNA DUNCAN
Heartbreaking is the word Lorna Duncan uses to describe how she felt when she first heard the news that Doddie, her former gym buddy, had MND.
Based in Fyvie in Aberdeenshire, Lorna got to know the rugby legend while studying textiles at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels.
“I knew Doddie as we used to go to the same gym in Galashiels,” says Lorna, an interior designer.
“I also knew his family, not very well but I knew them all.
“His boys played rugby with my son so when it was first announced that he had MND it hit hard.
“It was sad because I knew the guy and his family and I knew what a character he was.”
Watching in awe as Doddie shared his MND journey with the nation, Lorna knew she had to join the fight to find a cure by signing up for Doddie Aid.
“You’re part of one big family who are all fighting towards the same thing, who have all been inspired by the big lout, the guy who had so much mischief behind him,” says Lorna.
“He had so much passion and fight that you couldn’t help but to be inspired.
“There’s a guy who was suffering and he never felt sorry for himself, he was out there fighting so you felt that to sit and do nothing was wrong.”
HE HAD SO MUCH PASSION AND FIGHT YOU COULDN’T HELP BUT BE INSPIRED. A GUY WHO WAS SUFFERING AND HE NEVER FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF, YOU FELT TO SIT AND DO NOTHING WAS WRONG
FOREVER INSPIRED BY DODDIE
Involved in Doddie Aid from the start, Lorna
has walked and cycled as many miles as she possibly can for the charity.
And remembering the way Doddie faced the illness will forever inspire Lorna.
“I remember bumping into Doddie at one of the boys’ rugby things and it was lovely because he was still the Doddie I knew,” says Lorna.
“Kathy, his wife, was with him, and the way he conducted himself just grabbed my heart massively.
“So many people would be embarrassed or want to hide away ashamed whereas Doddie was still Doddie and he was just like, well this is how it’s going to be.”
OLIVIA BIRD
“We’re much closer now than we’ve ever been to finding something which could actually slow or stop the disease,” says Olivia Bird, the research programme manager at the
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, a charity set up by Doddie and his friends to raise funds to aid research into the causes of motor neurone disease and investigate potential cures and to make grants to individuals suffering from MND.
Launched just over five years ago, the charity has invested millions into MND research.
“In that time we’ve committed nearly £8 million to research in the UK and in Europe which is pretty phenomenal,” says Olivia.
“We’ve also given a lot of support to clinical trials and we’re really proud to say that more people than ever before in the UK can now access a clinical trial for MND.”
VITAL RESEARCH
Olivia says the vital research just wouldn’t be possible without events like Doddie Aid.
“Our amazing supporters have put their bodies through so much to be able to donate to research which is fantastic,” says Olivia.
“Research is expensive and getting one drug from the lab to market could take 10 to 20 years and it could also cost billions of pounds, so we’re so reliant on our supporters to keep doing what they’re doing.
“We’re just so grateful to everyone who has taken part in Doddie Aid this year, it has been hugely successful and we’re really excited to announce where we will be targeting that money in the coming months as well.
“The people raising money for us can be reassured that their donations will make a huge difference.”
THE FIGHT CONTINUES
Olivia says it’s now more important than ever that people join the fundraising drive.
“The shorter-term goal is to find a treatment that will slow the disease or stop its progression, and the longer-term goal is to find a cure, ultimately that is the goal,” says Olivia.
“It’s likely that there won’t be a single cure for MND because it’s quite a complex disease.”
Working for the charity, Olivia has her own special memories of Doddie.
“He really was a force within the community,” says Olivia. “The very first time I met him it will always stick with me as we talked about my role in the foundation and he said to me you’ve got the hard job, and I just thought this is from someone who’s facing this terminal illness.”
This year’s Doddie Aid raised more than £2 million. For more information visit doddieaid.com and myname5doddie.co.uk