FOR the last few years Annan rugby stalwart Billy Henderson has cycled thousands of miles to help raise money for Motor Neurone Disease
And next month he is set to get in the saddle once more with a joint Annan/Strathaven team who will be joining more than 300 cyclists and crew members to cycle 700 miles in ‘Doddie’5 Grand Tour of Scotland’.
Former Scotland international Rob Wainwright has taken the lead in organising the bike ride in aid of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The charity was set up by Rob’s friend, and former Scotland teammate, Doddie Weir before he passed away from MND in 2022.
It follows on from the success of the Doddie Cup 500 ride in 2022, the Doddie Cup 555 Ride in 2023 and All Roads Lead to Rome in 2024.
This time, however, the ride will be closer to home, with a mammoth winding route planned from Stranraer, where the contingent will depart first thing in the morning on Wednesday, February 5, to Edinburgh Castle where they plan to arrive on Saturday.
On the first day a refreshments stop will be taking place at Violetbank at 12 pm – more on this below – with around half of the contingent stopping, while the other half will take a break at Langholm Rugby Club.
Rob will lead a Scotland Legends team, while he has encouraged clubs across the country to enter teams of their own.
Annan/Strathaven team captain Billy said: “I have been involved for a few years now. We have biked all over, last year we biked to Rome.
“This year we have joined up with a team from Strathaven.
“I’m quite friendly with Rob (Wainwright), so I kind of just blagged my way onto his team four years ago.
“For the past two or three years Annan has had their own team, there’s also a team from Moffat.
“We biked to Rome last year but we didn’t get as much chat with people. This year we have clubs where we are stopping at along the way.
“We get to Edinburgh on the Saturday and there’s a social at Heriot’s. Then Scotland play Ireland on the Sunday at Murrayfield, a lot of us have bought tickets for it.
“The last time we were in Edinburgh we biked from Charlotte Square to the game. People were cheering us, it was a great feeling.”
On how enjoyable the 700 mile trek will be, Billy added: “It all depends on the weather. We are going to the Balmoral and Glenshee area and we are expecting it to be bad up there.”
Former Scottish rugby internationalist Doddie Weir was diagnosed with MND in 2017.
He went on to establish the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Since being founded, the charity has committed over £18m into supporting MND research.
Doddie passed away in 2022 but his legacy lives on.
Billy said: “I met him a few times and played rugby against him. In the early 90s he would’ve been playing for Melrose and I would’ve been playing for Annan.
“He was very good fun and full of energy.
“It (MND) is a terrible disease, I’ve known a few people with it.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to do something to help.
“Rob does a lot of work for his late friend.”
Joining Billy for the full journey will be Andy Black, Graham Hogg, Scott Irving, Tam Sloan, James Russell and Grant Neilson.
You can read more, and donate to the cause, at justgiving.com/team/annan-strathaven-rugby
