Finding Strength After Loss
"It's taken a while, but it feels like I'm in a good place",Kathy Weir reflects.
Following the death of her husband, rugby legend Doddie Weir, in 2022 from motor neurone disease (MND), Kathy experienced a profound and very public sense of loss. This was due in part to the nature of the illness, Doddie's prominence in rugby, and his extensive fundraising efforts.
Now, Kathy, aged 55, feels prepared to "step up and do her bit" for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, the charity her husband established, which remains dedicated to finding a cure for MND.
Preparing for a Challenging Ride
Kathy has been training for a demanding 750-mile endurance bike ride. This event spans four days and involves hundreds of cyclists traveling from the Scottish Borders through England, Wales, and Ireland to raise funds for the foundation.
Among the participants are notable sports figures such as former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright, world-record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont, and former British and Irish Lions centre Gordon D'Arcy. Kathy will join them as part of an all-female relay team.
"It was very public for us, the whole thing. After he died it's easy to say you are fine when you are not quite as fine. So it's taken a while and I do think I'm in a good place at last."
Family and Farm Life
In preparation for the ride, Kathy has been training at the family farm in the Scottish Borders alongside her sons Hamish, Angus, and Ben. The farm was a place Doddie loved deeply and represented a dream for him. It was also where he first noticed symptoms of his illness.
"He was out on the farm and he felt he had a weakness in his hand,"Kathy explains.
"It sort of never fixed and he started googling and that's when we started down the road of motor neurone disease."
Their three sons share fond memories of their father on the farm. Ben recalls assisting with fixing a hundred fence posts by hand after Doddie forgot batteries for the drill. Angus pointed out the first lamb of the season, noting it was not the type of animal their father preferred, as he was "more taken with the cows than the sheep." Hamish remembers being woken early to help nail things in the shed, describing it as an idyllic childhood.
The family maintains a close bond. The boys share laughter with their mother as Kathy discusses the challenge ahead, noting the team will cycle approximately 200 miles each day during the event.
Humour and Legacy
When asked about the role of humour in their family, Kathy attributes it to Doddie.
"That was the way he lived. There was no point in crying because it didn't get you anywhere. That was sort of his philosophy in life."
Hamish smiles as he recalls how everyone who met his father has a story to tell.
"Some of them I'm not sure I should be hearing if I'm totally honest. It sounds as if he caused a bit of mischief back in the day."
This positive outlook, Hamish adds, represents
"my dad's legacy and will be until we find a cure."
Kathy agrees, believing that Doddie's openness about his illness has helped others affected by MND.
"He made it that you are not alone,"she says.
Continuing the Fight Against MND
The My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, established by Doddie following his diagnosis in 2016, has raised over £20 million to support research into treatments and a cure for motor neurone disease.
Kathy anticipates that the four-day cycling challenge through rugby's four home nations will bring both highs and lows. However, reflecting on Doddie's achievements provides her with strength.
"I don't think anyone can do what he did,"she states.
Through this endurance ride, Kathy aims to raise awareness of MND and demonstrate to those affected by the disease that efforts to combat it continue.
"And show people who are suffering with MND that we are still here and we are still doing what we can to try and help."
