EXCLUSIVE: England rugby union hero Lewis Moody broke down as he spoke about bringing forward a gruelling cycling marathon so he will still be physically able to ‘get through it’
Stricken rugby legend Lewis Moody broke down announcing he will join in a 500-mile bike ride to find a motor neurone disease cure while he can still physically ‘get through it’.
The former England captain and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner was diagnosed six months ago with the degenerative nerve condition which causes muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis. Since then he has battled to come to terms with the devastating illness and work out how best to help raise money to find a cure.
Lewis, 47, said he will lead a 15-strong team of rugby union superstars, captains and players through a fundraising country-long bike ride from Newcastle to England’s Twickenham home within a week.
Though he has ‘a sense of hope’ a cure will be found he said he accepts he faces a race against time to benefit from it. He said he had arranged the marathon cycle in a hurry to start on June 14 so he would be well enough to take part and fought back tears telling how the support he had received from pals and former team-mates had been ‘overwhelming’.
The flanker, who won seven Premiership titles and two European Cups with Leicester Tigers and three Six Nations Championships with England including a 2003 Grand Slam, told the Daily Star: “The reason for it being so soon is so that physically I feel I can contribute and get through it. I’m hoping that there will be many more challenges that I’m able to take part in but the reason for its proximity is because of my desire to want to be a part of it as well rather than just have other people do it.
“The support we’ve received has just been overwhelming.” Lewis said his health was ‘good at the moment’.
“The only sort of significant noticeable change is still in my hand and the shoulder strength is diminished as it was but not significantly reduced since diagnosis,” he said.
“Without a shadow of a doubt the hardest thing is noticing the little things. The other day I noticed a slight difference in my finger strength whether it was opening a bottle top, holding a fork, cutting your food.
“Those little things mentally are a challenge when they present themselves but I think within a day you can move past it – just focus on function, the things I can do rather than the things I’m less able to. But at the minute everything still remains slow so hopefully that will continue. I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll have to push myself in this way.
“But this is about far more than the miles. Like so much of life it’s about people – mates coming together, supporting each other, finding strength in camaraderie and really hoping we can make a difference. Above all it’s about using that energy and the platform I’m fortunate to have to make as big an impact as possible for everyone living with MND. I want to do everything in my power to make a difference, building on the work of giants who have gone before me.”
Joining him on the trek – which will arrive at Twickenham on June 20 in time to deliver the match ball for this year’s Gallagher Prem Final – will be fellow rugby legends Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Phil Vickery, Martin Corry, Tom Youngs, Ben Youngs, Danny Care and Kenny Logan.
Lewis’s teen sons Dylan, who plays for Southampton FC, and Ethan will ride alongside their dad. He will raise cash via the charity set up by Scotland rugby legend George ‘Doddie’ Weir who died from MND in 2022 aged 52.
Lewis said he had been inspired by the efforts of ‘People’s Knight’ Kevin Sinfield who has run seven ultra-marathons in seven days for the past six years to raise more than £11m to combat the condition since his late Leeds Rhinos team mate Rob Burrows was diagnosed. Kevin’s latest 200-mile slog in December brought in more than £1.5m and led to 100,000 people – including darts world champion Luke Littler – joining a Daily Star campaign calling for the now-England rugby union skills and kicking coach to get a knighthood.
The 45-year-old is already planning a seventh slog later this year to match the No7 Rob wore on his shirts before his death in 2024 aged 41. Lewis said of Kevin: “He’s a remarkable human, isn’t he? He was one of the first people I spoke to around this to get some understanding.
“Their experiences and the advice that they gave me early on was hugely important and has very much helped me to get to the point where we are today. In terms of Kev as an inspiration I think he’s just a great example of when, as humans, we put our mind to something and if the cause is strong enough and the connection to it, whether it’s emotional, physical or spiritual, we can do remarkable things.
“He’s been fantastic at elevating the noise in this space around MND. I certainly won’t be doing any mega-marathons anymore but people like that are inspirational to motivate you to want to do other things. Kev is certainly an inspiration.”
Nicola Roseman, chief executive officer of the My Name’5 (corr) Doddie Foundation, said Lewis’s ‘courage’ in taking on his own challenge ‘while living with MND’ was ‘testament to him’. She said: “Lewis embodies the same spirit that Doddie showed every single day – a recognition of MND but a refusal to let the diagnosis define you and a determination to use your platform to change the outlook for everyone affected by this disease.
“Funding will go directly towards research that is bringing us closer to effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure. We are deeply grateful to Lewis, his family, and every one of The Lewis XV for supporting our vision of a world free of MND.”
Jon Dutton, chief executive officer of British Cycling, said: “We’re very proud when people who have achieved as much as Lewis choose cycling as a means of delivering social impact and I’m sure that he, his family and fellow riders will find the journey every bit as remarkable as it is challenging. As a society we must do more to tackle MND.
“It’s a cause close to my heart having previously supported the incredible Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield in the rugby league community. I have no doubt this effort from Lewis will prove an inspiration to those living with MND and many people across the UK.”