MND Scotland lands £30,000 donation from Scotland rugby hero Doddie Weir's charity foundation
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SCOTLAND rugby hero Doddie Weir's foundation has raised another £30,000 for a motor neurone disease (MND) charity.
The former Scotland lock, who was capped 61 times for his country between 1990 and 2000, was diagnosed with MND three years ago.
He set up his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in an effort to raise funds for research into a cure for the condition and to provide grants to people living with MND.
The charity has made a £30,000 donation to support MND Scotland during the coronavirus pandemic.
This latest pledge comes in addition to the £250,000 which the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation has already contributed to MND Scotland’s grants programme.
It was the wish of Doddie (49) to help others with the rapidly progressing terminal illness when he first established the foundation, which made its latest donation to MND Scotland for Coronavirus response work.
My Name'5 Doddie has also donated £70,000 to the MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help support families across the UK during the pandemic.
Doddie said: “Having MND puts people in the high risk category of coronavirus because our respiratory systems are already compromised.
"That means right now is a very worrying time for us. I am determined to do as much as I can to help alleviate some of those concerns.
"The money will be used by the MND Association in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and by MND Scotland to shore up the support they are offering people with MND at this time.”
Craig Stockton, chief executive of MND Scotland, said: “People with MND are among the most vulnerable in our society and during this very uncertain time, they need us more than ever.
"We are working tirelessly to develop and change the ways in which we support families affected by MND in Scotland, and this boost from Doddie’s foundation will help us stay connected to people when they need us most.”
Sally Light, chief executive of the MND Association, added: “We are working really hard to ensure our vital work supporting people with MND continues during the current crisis while also seeing a dramatic fall in our income following the postponement of so many key events in our fundraising calender.
"We are so grateful to Doddie for this donation which will enable us to continue and step up our support of people living with MND at this very worrying time.”
