Moody announces 500-mile MND ride with World Cup-winning team-mates

Lewis Moody was the guest of honour at England's win over Australia at Allianz Stadium in November Former England captain Lewis Moody says he feels as though he has been "brought off the bench" in the search for a cure for motor neurone disease (MND) as he announces a seven-day cycling challenge in aid of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Accompanied by former team-mates, including members of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, he will make a 500-mile trip, starting in Newcastle and ending in Twickenham, to deliver the match ball for the Prem final on 20 June. "I feel that I am being brought off the bench to take that baton forward and trying to get this job done," said Moody.

"Whether that is in my lifetime or not, I very much intend to give my energy and time to a cause that's worthwhile and one I genuinely believe will produce outcomes. " Doddie Weir, the former Scotland second row, died from MND in November 2022, and six people every day in the UK discover they have the degenerative muscle-wasting illness. The My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, set up by Weir in 2017, has so far raised £23.

5m towards research into treatment. Moody, who was diagnosed after noticing a weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym, says the progression of his disease seems gradual. "The only sort of significant noticeable change is still in my hand.

The shoulder strength is diminished, but not significantly reduced since diagnosis. "Without a shadow of a doubt, the hardest thing is noticing little things every day. The other day I noticed a slight difference in my finger strength - whether it was opening a bottle top, holding a fork, cutting your food.