FRIENDS supporters and partners of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation gathered at the Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh last week to celebrate the charity's 4th anniversary.

Doddie was joined by his family at the gala dinner, hosted by rugby legend Andy Nicol. The evening celebrated the many achievements of the Foundation since it was launched in November 2017 and honoured a number of key supporters who have played a role in that success.

The evening was also a chance to look to the future and share the charity's ambition and vision.

A number of groups who had all gone the "extra mile" to raise vital funds were recognised as well as four Doddie Champions.

These were Davy Zyw who was diagnosed with MND in 2018 and along with his twin brother, Tommy, and a group of friends rode around the most remote and beautiful corners of Scotland in just 4 days.

Willie Tulloch, the driving force behind Strive, a group of cyclists who pedalled approximately 700 miles around Scotland in 2018 and also hosted a rugby tournament and charity ball, raising over £85,000.

The ‘Coast to Coast in 24 Hours’ group Jamie Murray, Scott Wight, Allan Dodds, Barbara Shiel, Steven Shiel, Mathew Wilkie, Wayne Mitchell and Rory Murray who cycled, ran, kayaked and walked to raise money for MNDF in June 2021.

Maul Together the group of current and ex-players at Bridgnorth RFC who who completed their 959-mile John O’Groats to Lands End challenge over 9 days in July 2021. Dan Griffiths received the award on behalf of the group.

The four champions were BBC’s Sally Nugent who helps promote the cause, former Melrose team-mate Stuart Thom whose Great Rugby Cycle events have generated significant funds, Malcolm Murray from Hong Kong who organised the “Greatest Rugby Dinner Ever” and Rob Wainwright who has marched, cycled, cajoled, inspired, trekked to deliver match balls to either end of the country, taken over central Rome with an army of headband wearing rugby fans and invented the Doddie Gump which has morphed into Doddie AID which earlier this year raised in excess of £1million for the Foundation and MND research.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend popped in to give his thoughts on the Autumn Series and he was one of a host of well known rugby faces in the room.

The evening was a huge success with significant funds raised for targeted research into MND and to help people living with the disease.

It was rounded off with a performance from The Red Hot Chilli Pipers! The dinner also gave our new Doddie Champion, Rob Wainwright, a chance to launch Doddie AID 2022."