Hastings driven by hurt of hearing pal Doddie’s diagnosis
It was a real bombshell... I just burst into tears
SCOTT HASTINGS can still recall the tears he shed when Doddie Weir called to confirm he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. He remembers the emptiness and the feeling of utter devastation.
For months he had been aware that his pal had not been himself. When confirmation came, Hastings struggled to take it in.
‘I was devastated,’ he said. ‘Doddie is one of the best men you could ever meet. He always has a smile on his face and cares about people. It was so unfair.
‘Why has it affected one of life’s good guys?
‘I had known for a couple of months before Doddie officially announced there was a problem but refused to believe it. I had worked with Doddie at the Melrose Sevens and he was great — fun and as eloquent as ever. He was brilliant.
‘Then to have his diagnosis confirmed in a telephone call that he had motor neurone disease (MND) was a real bombshell. How could someone as great and as physically strong as big Doddie be struck down? I burst into tears when he told me. It was so sad.’
Hastings, 52, spoke to Sportsmail yesterday as he volunteered to support Weir in the MND Scotland 5KM fundraising fun run and sponsored walk round Holyrood Park.
‘I would run round Holyrood Park ten times, any amount of times in fact, to help this guy. Let’s hope lots of people join us.’
Hastings had in-depth knowledge of the impact of MND long before his close pal became its latest high profile victim.
His mother-in-law died from complications from MND after a fall. A close pal, Jim Robertson, passed away after contracting the disease. Then his friend, the South African rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen, died earlier this year from the condition at the age of 46.
He has been proud to serve as patron of MND Scotland for a number of years.
‘To hear Doddie also had MND was crushing,’ said Hastings. ‘There was Jim, then my motherin-law Nancy, then Joost — who I got to know well — and now Doddie has it. My mother-in-law always talked about the circle of life and that comes into my mind when I think how diseases like MND can strike down anyone.’
Weir was in one of his trademark tartan suits yesterday as he joined Hastings in Holyrood Park to promote the run. As one would expect, the banter flowed freely.
‘Doddie is still doing okay and he is an amazing, guy,’ said Hastings. ‘Look at him. Smiling, having a laugh. What a man.
‘His body is changing a bit in that he is starting to lose a bit of control in his thumbs and his arms — and that is what happens. The signals don’t connect.
‘Through it all, Doddie is still thinking of other people as always. He has put himself out there and has said he is raising money and, hopefully, we will soon get the sign-off to set up a charity.
‘In the meantime, we are going to try and launch his trust to allow him to make alterations at home and get equipment for him.
‘Ultimately, he is not going to be able to drive in a few months’ time, so we will have to make alterations to his vehicle and we want to ensure he has the funds for communication devices to make his life easier.
‘This includes the simplest of things like cutlery — and there is special cutlery Doddie can hold. There will be a number of resources there but we have to support him.
‘The rugby world has stepped up to help Doddie’s attempts to raise awareness of MND and the Scottish public is also rallying round. It shows the love for him.’
Lawrence Cowan, chairman of MND Scotland, has described Weir as ‘inspirational’ for the way he has raised such awareness of the disease in the short time since he announced his diagnosis back in June.
‘It’s fantastic that Doddie and Scott are teaming up to support the fightback against MND and we need everyone to join them to make our Holyrood Fun Run on August 27 the biggest ever,’ said Cowan, whose friend Gordon Aikman died of MND aged 31 earlier this year.
‘What Doddie has done since his diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease and help support others is inspirational.
‘Everyone at MND Scotland will stand with him and his family every step of the way.’
Doddie Weir and Scott Hastings are backing the MND Scotland fun run and sponsored walk round Holyrood Park on Sunday, August 27 with a 10am start. For more details of how to take part go to www.mndscotland.org.uk.