Sporting stars pay emotional tributes to MND hero Doddie Weir on his 55th birthday

Sporting stars including Kevin Sinfield, Ally McCoist, Kelly Cates, and Duncan Scott OBE have paid emotional tributes to their late friend and former teammate Doddie Weir OBE on what would have been his 55th birthday - two and a half years after he died from motor neuron disease (MND). The stars are amongst more than 15 well-known figures to appear in a powerful new video honouring Weir's memory and the legacy of the foundation he set up to find effective treatments for MND.

Inspired by the iconic scene in 1960 Stanley Kubrick movie Spartacus in which enslaved rebels each rise to say 'I'm Spartacus', the tribute sees sporting heroes and members of the MND community proudly declare 'My Name'5 Doddie'. The film also features Weir's friends and fellow Scottish ruby legends Kenny Logan and Rob Wainwright

Contributors include rugby league icon and MND fundraiser Kevin Sinfield - the best friend of the late Rob Burrow - Ryder Cup hero and 2025 US Open runner-up Bob MacIntyre, broadcaster and Scottish football great Ally McCoist, Olympic champion swimmer Duncan Scott OBE, England's World Cup winner Mike Tindall, Olympic curling gold medallist Eve Muirhead, Match of the Day presenter Kelly Cates, British and Irish Lions fly-half Fin Smith, and world-record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont.

The film marks a moment of reflection on the impact of My Name'5 Doddie Foundation - which has now committed almost £20 million to targeted research projects, launched its Catalysing a Cure strategy to speed up the search for effective treatments, and earlier this year pledged £4 million to the MND Discovery Network - a new UK-wide initiative connecting leading scientists to accelerate progress.

In one of the most moving moments, Jennie Starkey - who is living with MND and part of the Foundation's Discovery Network board - closes the film lining up shoulder-to-shoulder with all those carrying on Weir's mission.

The campaign follows the conclusion of Doddie's Lions Challenge, in which a team led by Logan and including Ally McCoist, Gabby Logan, and Doddie's widow Kathy cycled 555 miles around Ireland in just five days to deliver the match ball for the British & Irish Lions vs Argentina fixture in Dublin. The ride has so far raised almost £650,000, bringing Logan's fundraising total to nearly £1.5 million between his last two major fundraising events.

As is now tradition, hundreds of supporters from across the UK will wear Doddie Tartan to work today to mark what would have been the former lock's birthday.

Kenny Logan, who played alongside Doddie as part of the 1999 Five Nations winning Scotland side, said: "Doddie was a leader in life, and he remains a leader in death. His memory inspires thousands of people - both inside and outside of the MND community - to take action and help bring an end to this devastating disease.

"We all know Doddie should still be here with us. He brought light and laughter into every room - even in the darkest days. It's up to all of us to dig deep, keep fundraising, and finish what he started. We do it because we miss him. We do it because we love him. And we do it because nobody else should have to go through what he and his family did."

My Name'5 Doddie Foundation CEO, Nicola Roseman, said: "Doddie's spirit continues to galvanise the MND community. The outpouring of support and emotion on what would have been his 55th birthday shows just how many lives he touched and how much his story still matters. It also reminds us that there is still work to be done. Every birthday that passes without Doddie is another reminder of the urgency of our mission."

Weir, who was diagnosed with MND in 2016, died in November 2022. In the years following his diagnosis, he became one of the world's most prominent campaigners for MND research and funding, changing the conversation around the condition and helping to drive major investment into treatment discovery.

To find out more about My Name'5 Doddie Foundation or to donate, visit the charity website.