All Roads Lead to Rome in latest Doddie MND fundraiser

Doddie Weir OBE made one trip to Rome during his international career, as Scotland emphatically lost 34-20 to an Italian side playing their very first Six Nations match at the turn of the millennium.

24 years on from that historic day, more than 240 cyclists are heading to Rome in their Doddie-tartan Lycra as part of the All Roads Lead to Rome challenge.

Former Scotland rugby captain Rob Wainwright is set to lead a core eight-strong team, including Stuart Hogg, Gordon D’Arcy and Italy’s record try-scorer Marcello Cuttitta, as they carry the official match ball on a continuous four-day relay towards Rome.

Roy Thorburn was the first to leave on his solo ride to Rome from Annan Rugby Club.

Doddie Weir OBE died in November 2022 after a five year battle with motor neuron disease, but continues to spearhead the drive to fund research into this, as yet, incurable illness.

“Doddie was an icon in the rugby world and the MND community, and has united an army of supporters in pursuit of a world free of the disease,” Wainwright said.

“We need to keep MND in the spotlight, and All Roads Lead To Rome is as much about raising awareness for the MND community as it is about digging deep to raise money for vital research – the only thing that will ultimately lead to an end to this devastating disease.

“It will be a tough challenge, but a rewarding one, and it will be even more special when we all meet in Rome on March 8 to celebrate the achievement and Doddie’s memory.”

The challenge will take the core group of riders into mainland Europe for the first time, having already completed similar rides to Cardiff and Twickenham in previous years, including last February’s ride from Cardiff to Edinburgh which raised around £800,000 for MND research.

Last year’s Doddie Cup 555 ride, pictured in Cardiff. Credit: Huw Evans Agency

This year’s continental journey will be made in the saddle by 19 teams of cyclists, as they aim to raise £1 million for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to continue the essential research into MND treatment.

The Dodd1e’5 Gr4nd S7ammers are one of those teams en route to Rome, and will visit all of the Six Nations grounds as part of their journey. Having kicked off at Murrayfield on 28th February, they will move onto Dublin, Cardiff, Twickenham and Paris before rolling into Rome on March 8.

The team name incorporates the numbers 1,4,5 and 7, representing Weir (5), the late Paul Rendall (Wasps/England, 1), Ed Slater (Gloucester, 4) and Rob Burrow (Leeds Rhinos, 7), who are both currently living with MND.

Wainwright has challenged all those involved to congregate at the Piazza Navona in Rome on Friday for a celebration in honour of Weir, before meeting again on Saturday to march from the Piazza del Popolo to the Stadio Olimpico in Doddie headbands for the match.

Meanwhile, another team with Rome as its end destination is Nice2Roam4Doddie, who are set to hug the Italian riviera coastline as they cycle from Nice to the Italian capital.

Day 1 of the journey for the Nice2Roam4Doddie team, with Fergus on the right.

A peloton of 12 riders will cycle around 500 miles in the week-long expedition, one of which is Fergus Mainland, who first raised money for DoddieAid during lockdown.

“I was looking for stuff to keep active, and found out that there were weekly Zwift rides organised by Chris Hoy during January, which topped around a thousand riders,” he said.

“Rather than going out into the cold when it was all wet and miserable outside, you could donate the money that you’d normally buy a coffee or pastry with whilst out cycling to the foundation instead.

“I was lucky enough to meet Doddie, and his wife Kathy, back in 2021 in Newcastle University Students Union bar, which was really special, so I’d love to get to Rome for him.”

Fergus with Doddie in 2021.

The Nice2Roam4Doddie team are likely to be in the saddle for around 100km a day, and have already raised £23,000, with the overall total just having passed £300,000 in donations.

“There’s a big order of chamois cream that’s just come in to make sure that we’re all going to be okay down below,” Fergus jokes.

Anyone wishing to help Fergus with his fundraising for MND can do so here, and can find out more about the challenge at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/all-roads-lead-to-rome.