STARS of stage, screen, comedy, and cookery have thrown support behind Kenny Logan’s Rugby World Cup Challenge as it reaches its halfway point today (Wednesday, October 4).
The team, led by Scottish rugby hero Kenny Logan, set off on a seven-day, 700-mile, cycling and walking endurance challenge from Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh on Sunday October 1.
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Messages of support have been pouring in for the team, who are currently making their way to the Stade De France, Paris to raise £555,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Legendary Marvel Studios and Withnail & I actor Richard E Grant offered well wishes of support to good pal Jamie Bamber, saying: “Let’s get behind Kenny Logan, Jamie and the team to be part of the cure by donating whatever you can.”
Comedian Lee Mack offered a “big shout out” to Kenny and the team cycling all the way from Edinburgh to Paris and added: “I would join you, but I’m 55 and nothing works.
“Please support if you’re watching, it’s all for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to help fight motor neuron disease.”
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Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman wishes the team “enormous luck” and BBC presenter Radzi Chinyanganya hailed Doddie “the icon of Scotland”, revealing he supports Scotland football and rugby, with his mum being from Dundee.
The Hobbit and Cold Feet star Jimmy Nesbitt also joins today as the challenge heads to Marlow.
The walk and ride will continue to Brighton; before taking the ferry overseas to Mont Vernon and onward to the grand finale in Paris ahead of the Scotland vs Ireland match on October 7.
The team are over half way to the fundraising target for The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and today reached the £330,000 mark.
Weir, who played more than 60 matches for Scotland in the famous number five jersey, died in November 2022 after living with MND for six years.
The celebrities will be joined by teams of supporters helping to raise as much money as possible for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The challenge is also backed by high-profile sponsors, including Thrifty, Arnold Clark, Highland Spring, Leo Group, Specialized, Black Bull Scotch Whisky, DAF Trucks, Yeti, Endura, Sainsbury’s, Ocean Group, Berghaus, Optimum Nutrition and Canterbury.
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Kenny Logan, who decided to take on the challenge during recovery from prostate cancer, said: “It’s been a tough challenge so far physically, and we’re all feeling it, but emotionally it’s been incredible. The support we’ve received all along the route – and from supporters online and in the MND community – has been truly inspiring. It makes all the difference.
“We’re halfway through the challenge, and more than halfway towards our target. We need your support to get over the line and raise as much as possible for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – please dig deep and I promise we all will too.”
He added: “It’s hard to put into words what Doddie meant to me, my family, and the rugby and MND communities around the world. He was the most loving, kind and courageous person I knew; all of which drove him to fight his MND so hard for so long and be a champion for others living with the disease, raising millions of pounds along the way.
“Currently people with MND don’t have adequate treatment options – and that’s why we’re doing this for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, so that one day, everyone in Doddie’s position will have a better chance.
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“I want you to join me as part of the challenge to make a real impact. Let’s all come together to finish what Doddie started and find a cure for MND.”
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was named charity of the year at the 2023 Just Giving Awards last month.
The challenge takes place ahead of Doddie Aid 2024, a national fundraising event where participants rally to raise as much money as possible for MND research.
The annual mass participation event runs for six weeks from 1 January each year. The 2023 event came to its conclusion when Rob Wainwright and a team of rugby legends completed their journey transporting the match ball for The Doddie Weir Cup – Scotland’s Six Nations fixture against Wales – from Cardiff to Murrayfield.
To find out more about Kenny Logan’s Rugby World Cup Challenge, visit kennylogansrwcchallenge.com For more information on the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, visit myname5doddie.co.uk.
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