Rugby Legend Finds Hope Fighting Motor Neurone Disease

When Lewis Moody heard the word "hope" from his neurologist, it changed everything about his motor neurone disease diagnosis.

The England rugby legend who helped win the 2003 World Cup says things feel vastly different now compared to when Scottish great Doddie Weir and rugby league star Rob Burrow were diagnosed with the incurable condition. Both have since died, but Moody believes real progress is being made.

"Specialists talk about hope," the 47-year-old told journalists Wednesday. "I want to transform hope into clear actions and then into outcomes going forward."

That hope wasn't always there. When his first specialist delivered the devastating news last year, Moody felt lost in negativity with no information about what came next.

Everything shifted when he met Professor Martin Turner, an Oxford neurologist specializing in motor neurone disease research. Turner didn't change the diagnosis, but he changed Moody's outlook completely.

"He was really clear that everyone is unique and everyone's journey is different," Moody said. "He used the word hope, which I found doctors and specialists very rarely ever use."

Now Moody is backing up that hope with action. He announced plans for a seven-day, 500-mile cycling challenge featuring rugby greats like Jonny Wilkinson, Phil Vickery, and Martin Corry, plus his own sons Dylan and Ethan.

The "Lewis XV" ride starts in Newcastle on June 14 and arrives at Twickenham with the match ball for the Premiership final on June 20. It will raise funds for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which has already committed over $31 million to motor neurone disease research and $2 million in direct support to patients.

Why This Inspires

The response has been overwhelming. Former teammate Phil Vickery admitted he absolutely hates cycling but is "100 percent going to do this" for Moody anyway.

That sense of connection and camaraderie mirrors what made their rugby teams special. Now they're using it to fight a disease that affects six people daily in Britain.

Moody admits the physical changes are happening gradually. His shoulder strength has diminished, and he recently noticed differences in his finger strength when opening bottles or cutting food.

"The hardest thing is noticing every day the little things," he said. "But I think within a day, you can move past it. Just focus on things I can do rather than things that I'm less able to do."

The bike ride is scheduled soon for a powerful reason: Moody wants to participate himself rather than just having others ride in his name. He's hoping there will be many more challenges he can take part in going forward.

When hope meets action, even the toughest opponents start looking beatable.