IT has been a busy 12 months for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

The Borders rugby legend's charity has worked tirelessly to raise vital money and awareness of the need to find a cure for motor neurone disease.

The highlight was playing a key role in persuading Prime Minister Boris Johnston to set aside £50 million over five years for targeted research.

The foundation has also invested more than £6 million and has directly helped people living with the condition across the country.

The charity provided grants worth a collective £1.25 million – thanks to thousands who took part in charity walks, runs, bike rides.

The inaugural My Name’5 Doddie Foundation Anniversary Awards Night at Prestonfield House on November 19 raised more than £100,000; while Doddie and former rugby league player Rob Burrow have joined forces to launch 75 Gin which donates all profits of its bottle sales to aid further research.

In addition, the MND-SMART trial which is part-funded by the foundation has now recruited more than 240 people with MND across the UK with more sites expected to open soon.

Another platform trial is set to start recruiting in January.

But Doddie’s work isn’t done and more money is needed to continue the fight.

The charity's CEO, Jill Douglas, said: "A couple of weeks ago we celebrated our fourth anniversary and it gave us a chance to reflect on the achievements of the foundation and look to the future.

"Thanks to your brilliant and ongoing support, we have been able to invest more than £6 million in important MND research and directly help people living with this terrible disease with grants of £1.25 million.

"We played a key role in the campaign to encourage the government to commit £50 million into targeted MND research and this is just the start.

"This investment, over the next five years, is a springboard to making real progress in the search for meaningful treatments for motor neurone disease but we will need to press on and continue to do our bit.

"We will set out our own ambitious plans to support a new way of funding research, accelerating treatments for MND and we will need your help. Doddie AID is your chance to be part of the team and a great way to kick off 2022.

"Thank you for your amazing support, it means a great deal to Doddie and everyone at My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Have a wonderful Christmas, stay safe and a Happy Doddie AID 2022."