£50,000 has been given to MND Scotland and £100,000 to its sister charity, which operates across the rest of the UK

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, founded by rugby legend Doddie Weir, has donated £150,000 to motor neurone disease (MND) charities.

Cash given will be used to support people living with the condition.

Doddie, who first shared his MND diagnosis in June 2017, has pledged to help others with the rapidly progressing terminal illness, as well as funding for research into finding a cure. 

Since 2018, the foundation has committed annual funding to MND Scotland and the MND Association, to help the charities provide vital support to people who are currently affected by MND. 

Now £50,000 has been given to MND Scotland and £100,000 to its sister charity, which operates across the rest of the UK.

This new cash boost takes the foundation’s total donations to MND Scotland and the MND Association to £430,000 and £770,000, respectively. The funds will be used by both organisations to help ease some the financial burden that comes with a diagnosis of MND, through their grant programmes. 

These programmes aim to help reduce some of the extra costs that come with living with MND. The grants can be used in various ways, for instance; to help with costs towards home adaptations, such as ramps and stairlifts, for specialist equipment to live life more independently, and for respite activities for carers and families. 

Jill Douglas, chief executive of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: "We recognise the challenges faced by people who are given this terrible diagnosis and the impact it has on them and their families. We speak to people every day who need support and we are committed to doing all we can to help. We are delighted to work with the two MND charities, MND Association and MND Scotland who have the experience and expertise to make sure our grants reach the people who need them most." 

Rachel Maitland, MND Scotland’s chief executive, added: “A diagnosis of MND can put an enormous financial strain on people living with the disease, and our grants programme can be life-changing for those affected in Scotland. We thank the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation for this very generous donation and for the Foundation’s continued support over the years. These funds help MND Scotland provide essential financial support when people need it the most, and by continuing to work together we can make life a little easier for people living with MND right now.”