When I was 9 I remember my mum being concerned that something wasnt right with my dad, He'd always been strong fit man but had started to drop things and was losing his grip and wasn't walking the same. She had him at the doctors a few times and they kept guessing at what it may be without anything conclusive as to what it actually was, Then 1 day by chance she was reading the newspaper that had an article about Don Revie an English football player and manager that had recently passed away from something called Motor Neurone Disease. By the time she'd reached the end of the article and after hearing the symptoms she knew from within thats exactly what 'Alfy" had! She made her thoughts known to the doctor and dad was tested within a few days with results coming within a week of that. The Prognosis? A death sentence because thats exactly what was wrong 😔 My dad had MND

Over the next 3-4 years we watched a once really fit, strong healthy man literally melt away to being bed bound, unable to speak and fed by a tube until he passed away when I was 13. Everything changed in these moments and me and my brother had to grow up overnight as we tried to help where we could but not really understanding the horror that was unfolding.

Fast forward 35 years and even writing this it still feels as raw now as it did then, I can still feel his frustration trying to communicate to his family like a game of charades that no one could win 😢 getting angry with himself and us then tears all round.

What happens in MND?

Nerve Damage: Motor neurons, which send signals from your brain to your muscles, become damaged and die.

Muscle Weakness: Messages can't reach muscles, causing them to weaken, waste away (atrophy), and eventually stop working.

Progressive Nature: The weakness worsens over months or years, impacting daily activities like walking, eating, and speaking.

In memory of my dad I'm looking to fundraise for "My Names Doddie" by doing 2 mammoth cycling events in March and June 2026. The first is riding from Doodies home town of Melrose to Dublin over 4 days to deliver the match ball for the Ireland Scotland match on 14th March.

770 miles 44000ft

The second is an ultra event called TransAlba that is pretty much a loop of Scotland starting in Musselburgh and finishing in South Queensferry after 1040 miles 67000ft. This is a race and is self supported.. Im aiming to do it in 5 days give or take 🙂 I've no doubt they'll be times I go to dark places in both these events when things get tough but my darkest place is nothing on what my dad went through and I'll tell myself this when I need to.

I would be so grateful if you could support me in my efforts by giving any amount you can to this cause 🙏 I've lived it first hand and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Thank you so much for listening ❤️

Join us on an incredible journey as we embark on "Doddie's Triple Crown 2026," a remarkable cycling challenge that aims to raise vital funds for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

From Tuesday, 10th March to Friday, 13th March, our dedicated teams will cycle an astonishing 800 miles over four days, culminating in a grand arrival in Dublin just before Scotland takes on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. This is not just a ride; it’s a mission fuelled by hope and determination.

Our route is both challenging and inspiring: Day 1 will take us from Melrose to Leeds, followed by Day 2 from Leeds to Gloucester. On Day 3, we’ll journey from Gloucester to Pembroke, where we’ll board an overnight ferry to Ireland. Finally, on Day 4, we’ll pedal from Rosslare to Dublin. Each mile we cover brings us closer to our goal of raising £30,000 for this important cause.

We believe in the power of community and the impact that each contribution can make. Your support can help us provide essential resources and research for those affected by motor neuron disease. Together, let’s make a difference!

We invite you to join us in this noble cause—every donation counts and brings us one step closer to achieving our target. Let’s pedal towards hope and change together!