A host of international rugby legends are coming to Penrith on Thursday as part of a monster charity challenge.
The team, which includes greats of the game such as world cup winning England captain Martin Johnson, are cycling more than 500 miles for Doddie Weir’s motor neurone disease (MND) charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
In just 48 hours, the cycling team are transporting the Six Nations Match Ball from BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The Wales versus Scotland match is now known as the Doddie Weir Cup and will take place on Saturday at 2.15pm.
The rugby stars will be calling in at Penrith Rugby Club between 4pm and 8pm on Thursday and supporters are welcome.
Local company Arragon’s Cycle Centre will be providing support and repairs. Doddie’s former Scotland and British and Irish Lions teamate Rob Wainwright is leading the ride.
He said: “We have to believe that a breakthrough in MND treatment is just round the corner, and push ourselves and others to raise funds to realise that dream.
“We do it for extraordinary people like Doddie and Davy Zyw, but ultimately for all the other friends we have not met who suffer or will suffer from this awful disease.
“Our quest is to put MND in the bin that contains smallpox and the growing list of other ex-diseases, and your support in that quest is vital and very welcome.”
This is the third year that the ride has taken place and it raised £160,000 in 2020.
This time around, they plan to raise more than £250,000. Last time, riders averaged three hours of sleep across 48 hours during the gruelling challenge, which saw them maintain speeds of 15mph to deliver the match ball on time.
Other riders include Alix Popham, Dean Ryan, Carl Hogg, Mike Teague, Colin Charvis, Iwan Tukalo and world record holding endurance cyclist Mark Beaumont.
He added: “The Doddie Cup 500 ride is the gloriously hard finale to the Doddie Aid campaign.
“Having been on the inaugural pedal to Twickenham, I remember both extremes, the wicked weather, and the wonderful camaraderie!
“Our ride to Wales is shaping up to be equally memorable – thank you to everyone who has shown their support.”
For more information, visit myname5doddie.co.uk
