Weir’s way leads him to Paradise
Doddie Weir joins Celtic manager Neil Lennon at Parkhead to promote a charity match for motor neurone disease
DODDIE WEIR believes an all-star charity game will be another significant step on the road to finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
The Scottish rugby legend was diagnosed with the illness in 2017 and has since raised over £5million through his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to fund research and help fellow MND sufferers and their families. The man who won 61 Scotland caps was at Celtic Park yesterday to announce The Lions Roar Charity Match which the stadium will host on Friday, May 8. Staged in conjunction with the Celtic FC Foundation, the game will see the world of football, rugby and entertainment come together to support research and other initiatives aimed at tackling MND. ‘When you’re dropped by a team, what do you do?’ Weir said. ‘Hand your jersey back? Or fight hard to get it sorted? Given my background, I do enjoy a little scrap now and again and this is a big fight we’ve taken on. ‘The government (in Westminster) has mainly been concerned with focusing on the diseases which affect more people but we’re getting a little help from the Scottish government, who are starting to come on board now. ‘You need money to fix this problem but you also need to raise awareness of the issue. ‘I believe there will be a cure. There are a few trials at the moment, including one at Edinburgh University which our foundation has invested £1m in. That’s the first major trial to take place in Scotland and there are others due to start in England and the USA.
‘Finding a cure for this will also help other neurological problems such as Parkinson’s and MS. That’s my goal and it’s what keeps me going. I have a great team behind me and that helps me get out and about but there are lots of people who can do nothing but watch TV and think about MND all day.’
Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone lost his fight with the disease in 2006 but 14 years on a cure for the condition seems no closer to being found.
‘It’s something that is very close to the club’s heart because of the historical side of it with Jinky,’ said Celtic boss Neil Lennon.
‘Then you see what an inspirational figure Doddie is, it’s a great cause. It’s heartbreaking to hear him talking about the fact that there has only been one drug for the past 30 years.
‘It tends to get ignored and it’s a horrific disease. There’s another kid, Rob Burrow, the Rugby League player, who has been diagnosed with it as well.
‘Hopefully we can raise as much money as we can and the research can bring some solace to them in some way.
‘The fans have been brilliant supporting these causes, there’s been full houses, and I’m pretty sure this one will be the same.’
Tickets for The Lions Roar Charity match are now on sale to season ticket holders priced £14 for adults and £6 for concessions, and will go on general sale on March 16.