Doddie’s big boost for MND Scotland

Rugby legend Doddie Weir has delivered a £100,000 boost to MND Scotland’s grants programme, to support families affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Doddie, who publically revealed his MND diagnosis in June 2017, has previously donated £150,000, through the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, to aid others with the rapidly progressing terminal illness.

People with MND in Scotland can apply to MND Scotland for a number of grants to help with the financial costs associated with the illness, such as equipment and home adaptations, to cover the costs of clothes and utility bills, and to fund a holiday.

While much of the money raised by the Doddie’s foundation is directed towards research, a significant amount is pledged to directly help people who are living with the disease via MND Scotland and the Motor Neurone Disease Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In total the Foundation has donated £400,000 to the MND Association and £250,000 to MND Scotland.

More than 1,000 people affected by MND have been directly helped by grants funded by the foundation. MND Scotland has helped 250 people through our grants programme, awarding almost £300,000 to families in Scotland in 2019. 

Doddie Weir OBE said: “We are delighted to know that we have been able to help so many families over the last two years. There are many challenges to living with MND and it has been my aim to help people in a similar situation to myself live as full a life as possible. The grant schemes are vital and we are only able to help in this way thanks to the amazing support we receive from our fundraisers and friends every day.”

Craig Stockton, MND Scotland’s chief executive, said: “The support from the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation is helping us provide vital support to even more families across the country, when they need it the most.

“I’d like to thank Doddie and his foundation for their generosity, and commitment to improving the lives of those affected. Through our grants programme we are able to remove some of the additional stress that financial worries can cause, and allow people to concentrate on living their lives.”

Jill Douglas, Chief Executive of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “One of our key aims is to give support to families living with MND and we recognise that the MND Association and MND Scotland have the necessary expertise and experience to administer these vital grants on our behalf.

“They are successful partnerships and we very much appreciate the relationships and how they enable us to fulfil this important goal.”

For more information about our grants, please visit www.mndscotland.org.uk/grants.