The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation will invest £400,000 in game-changing MND research

A charity set up by a Scottish rugby giant has announced its first £400,000 investment into MND research.

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was launched at the end of last year following the news that former Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir is suffering from the degenerative condition.

Since then, fundraisers have taken place across the country to raise funds for MND prevention and now the charity has announced its first investment.

The £400,000 will be used to support the work of Chris Shaw, professor of neurology and neurogenetics, and his team at King’s College London who are spearheading gene therapy for sporadic Motor Neurone Disease.

Weir said: “We have received incredible support since we launched the foundation in November and it was important for us to take time and consider how best to use the funds we have raised wisely.

“Everyone has been so supportive and worked very hard to give us this opportunity and I would like to thank each and every one of those who has given their time, energy and hard-earned money to allow us to move forward and invest in research.

“I have said it before but while it may be too late to find something that can help me, I am committed to doing everything I can to help find a cure.”

Professor Shaw said: “This is a game changing commitment by the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation to employ the latest gene therapy technologies to develop revolutionary new treatments for people with motor neurone disease. This is a high risk, but potentially very high return initiative that could make a dramatic impact on the course of this dreadful disease."