2020 Winner
Doddie Weir OBE
After a career inspiring the nation with his leadership on the rugby pitch, Doddie is now inspiring us all with his courage and dignity in the face of a devastating illness.
Doddie earned 61 caps for Scotland and toured with the British and Irish Lions. With his big personality, and trademark blue and yellow tartan suit, he was always the life of the party.
In 2017 Doddie revealed he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The devastating condition has no cure and a life expectancy of one to five years following diagnosis. In Doddie’s case, doctors told him he would be in a wheelchair within 12 months.
Determined to help others facing the same plight, Doddie and close friends and supporters, launched My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to help fund research into MND and support fellow sufferers of this devastating disease.
To date the Charity has committed £5.8 million to MND Research.
It has invested in the Glasgow-based charity, Funding Neuro, and committed £250,000 to the drug repurposing work led by Professor Siddarthan Chandran at the University of Edinburgh. An additional £780,000 is being invested in supporting the pioneering clinical trial, MND-SMART.
In addition, the charity has given almost £1million to MND Scotland and MND Association to administer as grants on their behalf. This money has helped hundreds of people living with MND. The father of three continues to raise awareness and advocate on behalf of people living with motor neuron disease.
Meanwhile, the inspirational sportsman who never ducked a challenge on the pitch, continues to defy the odds. While he has lost power in his hands, arms and neck, he is still going to his boys’ rugby matches and leading his charity from the front.