North east man to cycle 700 miles to France with Rugby World Cup ball to raise funds for MND

Duncan Barton, a businessman and keen cyclist from the north east is taking on a mammoth cycle to raise money for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

He'll join 20 others, including some of Scotland’s well-known names from the world of sport and entertainment, led by rugby legend Kenny Logan. 

Supported by World Rugby, others taking part include Kenny’s wife, presenter Gabby Logan, footballer Ally McCoist, actor Jamie Bamber, presenter Kirsty Gallagher, adventurer Jason Fox, rugby player Rob Wainwright and actor James Nesbitt. 

They'll set off from Murrayfield on Sunday 1 October carrying with them the match ball for the Rugby World Cup game between Scotland and Ireland in the Stade de France, Paris, on Saturday 7 October. 

They aim to raise £555,555 for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation - a tribute to Doddie Weir who wore the number 5 shirt. 

The foundation, which aims to raise awareness as well as funds for research, was set up by British Lions and Scottish rugby international Doddie Weir who died in November last year after a battling Motor Neuron Disease (MND)

Mr Barton said the charity is one close to his heart, knowing Doddie personally and after his wife Annie's mother passed away from the disease in 2021. 

He said: “Annie’s mum Margaret died from MND in 2021, and we are committed to helping to make a difference and to doing whatever we can to support efforts to raise enough funds to find a cure for this awful, incurable disease. 

“My personal fundraising goal was £15,000 and thanks to fantastic support from the local community, that goal has already been exceeded with the total now sitting at more than £17,500 so we have upped the goal to £20,000.”