Sport stars pay tribute to late Doddie Weir in birthday video
Weir founded the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation in 2017, and died in November 2022 aged 52.
Those in the video include Olympic swimming medallist Duncan Scott, Olympic curling medallist Eve Muirhead, broadcaster and ex-footballer Ally McCoist, former England rugby player Mike Tindall and British and Irish Lions fly-half Fin Smith.
(left-right) Doddie Weir's son Hamish Weir, Doddie Weir's wife Kathy Weir, Ally McCoist and Kenny Logan celebrate the conclusion of the Doddie'5 Lions Challenge (Brian Lawless/PA)
Supporters from across the UK will wear Doddie tartan to work on Friday July 4, as part of a tradition marking what would have been the former rugby player's birthday.
Kenny Logan, who played alongside Doddie as part of the 1999 Five Nations-winning Scotland side, said: 'Doddie was a leader in life, and he remains a leader in death.
'His memory inspires thousands of people, both inside and outside of the MND community, to take action and help bring an end to this devastating disease.
'We all know Doddie should still be here with us. He brought light and laughter into every room, even in the darkest days. It's up to all of us to dig deep, keep fundraising and finish what he started.
'We do it because we miss him. We do it because we love him. And we do it because nobody else should have to go through what he and his family did.'
The My Name'5 Doddie Foundation has now committed almost £20 million to targeted research projects and launched a Catalysing A Cure strategy to speed up the search for effective treatments.
Curler Eve Muirhead is among those in the video (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Earlier this year it pledged £4 million to the MND Discovery Network, a new UK-wide initiative connecting leading scientists to accelerate progress.
The film also features Jennie Starkey, who is living with MND and is part of the Foundation's Discovery Network board.
The video comes after the end of the Doddie's Lions Challenge, in which a team led by Logan and including Ally McCoist, Gabby Logan, and Doddie's widow Kathy, cycled 555 miles around the island of Ireland in five days to deliver the match ball for the British and Irish Lions vs Argentina fixture in Dublin.
The ride has so far raised almost £650,000 for MND research.
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation chief executive Nicola Roseman, said: 'Doddie's spirit continues to galvanise the MND community.
'The outpouring of support and emotion on what would have been his 55th birthday shows just how many lives he touched and how much his story still matters. It also reminds us that there is still work to be done.
'Every birthday that passes without Doddie is another reminder of the urgency of our mission.'
To find out more about My Name'5 Doddie Foundation or to donate, visit www.myname5doddie.co.uk.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
'I joined Arsenal over Chelsea and Spurs - it was the most terrible choice I ever made'
Mel Charles' transfer to Arsenal set a record for the biggest transfer between British clubs in 1959, but the Welshman described the move to north London as the worst decision he ever made Mel Charles once admitted that his record-breaking transfer to Arsenal ranked as the "most terrible choice I ever made". The former footballer - who passed away aged 81 in 2016 - enjoyed a 20-year career that included captaining Wales and representing his nation at the 1958 World Cup, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Brazil, with Pelé scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 win. It was only a year after the competition in Sweden that Charles, who had spent seven years in the Second Division, secured a £42,750 move from boyhood club Swansea City to the north London side, who were in the First Division, amid reported interest from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The transfer set a record as the biggest deal brokered between two British clubs and happened just two years after Juventus had paid Leeds United £65,000 for his older brother, John Charles. However, the big-money move for the younger Charles didn't work out. Due to constant ligament injuries, he played just 64 games for the Gunners in three years while scoring 28 goals. In his ghosted autobiography, Charles was particularly scathing of his own decision to join the club, claiming "signing for Arsenal was the most terrible choice I ever made." He cut ties with the club in 1962 and returned to Wales, signing for Cardiff City for £28,500. It was in the Welsh capital that Charles captured the only domestic honour of his career, when he won the Welsh Cup in 1964. After three years with Cardiff, he spent the last few years of his career in the lower divisions of football, enjoying stints with the likes of Porthmadog, Port Vale, Oswestry Town and Haverfordwest. He ended up retiring at the Welsh club in 1972 after a five-year stint. Charles ended up with a record of 122 goals in 401 league and cup games in the Football League. John followed in the footsteps of his sibling by also returning home to Wales to retire in 1974 after spending two years playing for Merthyr Tydfil. However, he only did so after a legendary career where he became an iconic figure for both Leeds United and Juventus. The centre-forward scored 154 goals in 317 games for Leeds before venturing into Italian football where he was a massive success. In the five years he spent in Turin, Charles netted 105 goals in 179 games and won three Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias. Charles passed away at the age of 71 in 2004 but remains a celebrated figure in Welsh football and was named by Stan Collymore among the greatest players in British history when rubbishing claims that Gareth Bale is the greatest player to ever emerge from these shores. The former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest star said in 2023: "It's quite bizarre because of how many Champions Leagues he has won and the run he went on at Spurs that turned him from someone who couldn't win a Premier League game to a tour de force. "And because of the trophies you have to put him in amongst the greatest ever. But I look at Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, John Charles — which would obviously mean a lot to Bale — Ian Rush, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and, I don't know what it is, whether it's this perceived laissez faire attitude of 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order', but I can't put him in with some of those." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Luke Littler fails his driving theory test for a FIFTH time as newly crowned World Matchplay champion reveals results of latest unsuccessful attempt
Luke Littler would be forgiven for believing the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency were behind a grand conspiracy to deny him the chance of driving his dream car - after failing his theory test for a fifth time. The newly crowned World Matchplay champion has been open with his followers on social media about his struggles to learn how to drive. On Wednesday, Littler revealed that he had again failed to make the grade on his theory test and as a result, will be forced to make another attempt to get his licence. In posting a score of 41 out of 50 in the multiple choice section of the exam, the Warrington native was two marks shy of the pass mark. While on the hazard perception section, he scored 44 out of 75 - the mark required to pass that section. Littler should take some heart from the fact that he was only two marks away from finally passing the test, even if his multiple choice score worsened by four points from the last time he sat the test. The 18-year-old accompanied an image of his result with the message: '5th time and counting...' The world champion has previously spoken about his love for the Mercedes A-Class Unfortunately for the darts sensation, the sub-par performance means he'll have to wait a little longer to get behind the wheel of his dream car. After becoming the youngest winner of the World Championship in January, Littler opened up on his love for the Mercedes A-Class. 'Last year I was looking at driving and I loved the Ford Focus, but now I've gone up in the world just a little,' he told reporters. 'I've always loved a Mercedes A-Class. Just a small car.' Littler is still basking in the glory of becoming the youngest player ever to complete darts' prestigious Triple Crown, after beating James Wade to clinch the World Matchplay title. The teenager secured £200,000 in prize money and even confirmed his relationship with his fun-loving beautician girlfriend Faith Millar. His haul was just the latest milestone in a year where he bagged £500,000 for the World Championship and earned in excess of £500,000 from Premier League success, propelling his career earnings to over £1.5 million.
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
League One 2025-26 preview: the contenders, hopefuls and strugglers
Last season was grim for Luton, culminating in them suffering a second successive relegation. But there remains plenty of quality at Kenilworth Road. Teden Mengi could easily be playing in the top flight, while Millenic Alli is a leading light of the recent intake. Most importantly, perhaps, the manager, Matt Bloomfield, knows this division well. Cardiff were also relegated from the Championship last season and will be hoping their new manager, Brian Barry-Murphy, can arrest the Welsh club's slide. Stockport missed out in the playoffs last season after finishing third. They also lost Isaac Olaofe to Charlton but have invested a club-record fee in Malik Mothersille from Peterborough to fill the void. The Hatters will be confident of another promotion push as long as they can hold on to the highly rated Ethan Pye and Lewis Bate, who have attracted Championship interest over the summer. Huddersfield are another who have changed manager, bringing in Lee Grant for what is the former Stoke goalkeeper's first managerial role. Grant has sought experience on the pitch, signing Ryan Ledson, Murray Wallace, Lynden Gooch and Alfie May. Tom Cleverley has taken the reins at Plymouth after their relegation from the Championship, while Mike Dodds will need Richard Kone to stay put if Wycombe are to battle for a spot in the Championship. Steve Bruce will not want to be known as a League One manager for another season. He arrived at Blackpool midway through the last campaign and has been given the resources to push for a return to the second tier. Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe have been acquired to strengthen central defence, and with Ashley Fletcher leading the line, Bruce's men will be hoping to rustle feathers. Reading did well to finish seventh last season considering the issues surrounding the club. Rob Couhig has become the new owner and a calmer presence in the boardroom could translate on to the pitch. Bolton finished eighth last season and their manger, Steven Schumacher, will be hoping to better that this time around. The loan signings of Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Amario Cozier-Duberry should excite but the loss of the captain, George Thomason, to Wrexham will need addressing. Leyton Orient made it to Wembley but fell just short in the playoff final. Ethan Galbraith and the loan stars Josh Keeley, Charlie Kelman and Jamie Donley have departed but there is plenty of excitement around the impending arrival of the Manchester United youngster Jack Moorhouse. Rotherham were expecting to challenge under Steve Evans last season but eventually stumbled to 13th. They have subsequently had a clearout of some big earners and allowed Matt Hamshaw to shape a more youthful squad. Conor Hourihane has used the loan market wisely to bring Barnsley up to scratch, while Ryan Lowe will be hoping Paul Mullin can spearhead Wigan's promotion push. Lincoln and Mansfield have an outside chance of getting into the playoffs. Doncaster won the League Two title last season and their manager, Grant McCann, quickly moved to sign Connor O'Riordan as a replacement for Joseph Olowu after his move to Stockport. Port Vale, who finished runners-up to Doncaster, have enjoyed a busy summer in the market as the manager, Darren Moore, attempts to balance youthful potential with old heads. Bradford, the third team to be promoted from League Two, may have half an eye on more than consolidation this season. For sure, Ibou Touray and Max Power will provide Graham Alexander's men with plenty of knowhow at this level. The League Two playoff winners, AFC Wimbledon, have been here before, playing six consecutive seasons in the third tier. Gary Bowyer oversaw the great escape with Burton last season and a continuation of that momentum should result in a better campaign for them. Exeter, Northampton and Stevenage might be fearful should they not start the season well. Andre Garcia, Reading, 17 The defender does not turn 18 until late November but already has 38 League One games under his belt. Garcia's performances at left-back also earned him an England Under-18 call-up in March and plenty of scouts are known to be tracking his progress. Benony Breki Andrésson, Stockport, 19 Having spent time in Bologna's academy, Andrésson's career began in earnest in his homeland of Iceland. Stockport were alerted to his potential and duly signed the striker in January to be part of their development team. He was quickly promoted to the first team and repaid the faith of his manager, Dave Challinor, with four goals in 11 games. Cian Ashford, Cardiff, 20 The local boy who has risen through the ranks and become a regular will be looking to push on this season. The arrival of Barry-Murphy as manager should help with that given the Irishman has worked with some of the best talent in the country during his time at Manchester City.
