Rugby legend's 555-mile charity cycle departs Mayo this morning
SCOTTISH rugby legend Kenny Logan is getting on his bike in Mayo this morning as part of his latest charity challenge - the 555-mile Doddie’5 Lions Challenge, in memory of his late friend and former teammate, Doddie Weir, OBE.
Cyclists set off from Belfast on Sunday, with Logan leading a team of celebrities, former internationals and fundraisers on a gruelling ride around Ireland, covering up to 100 miles a day through some of the island’s most iconic rugby heartlands, including Emyvale, Westport, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, Wicklow and Dublin.
They'll depart Westport this morning (Monday) on a 177km cycle to the Dexcom Stadium in Galway.
Amongst those joining Kenny on the road are his wife, broadcaster Gabby Logan, football legend Ally McCoist, actor Jamie Bamber, former Harlequins player Mel Deane, and world-famous cancer campaigner Iain Ward - widely known as the ‘King of Chemo’.
Also supporting the effort is Doddie’s son, Hamish Weir, who was originally set to cycle but will now drive a support vehicle after sustaining an injury during a recent rugby sevens tournament.
Other notable absences include former Scotland stars Bryan Redpath and Hugo Southwell, both ruled out through injury - a clear sign of the challenge's physical demands.
The six-day ride will culminate in Dublin on June 20, with the team delivering the match ball to the Aviva Stadium ahead of the British and Irish Lions’ 1888 Cup clash with Argentina - the first time the two sides have met.
Logan, speaking during his final phase of training, said: “We’ve lost a few to injury, and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. I’m not going to lie - I’ve had my own aches and pains. No major injuries thankfully, but I’ve definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn’t be moving this much at my age!
“I’m most nervous about the hills. I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it’s definitely not. But nerves are good. I’ve always had them before a big challenge, and it means I care.”
As in his previous fundraising effort - a 700-mile cycle from Edinburgh to Paris ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup – Ally McCoist will once again provide some comic relief, but Logan admitted his teammate’s training might need fine-tuning.
He said: “Ally’s been out and about, but his bike broke down the other day. I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears - someone else needs to do that for him!”
So far, the challenge has raised more than £300,000 for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, with hopes of reaching £500,000 before the wheels start turning.
This is Logan’s second major endurance fundraiser for MND research, following the success of 2023's Edinburgh-to-Paris cycle, which raised almost £1 million.
This year’s event is a tribute to Weir, who died of MND in 2022, and a call to continue the work he started.
Logan added: “The support’s been incredible. We’ve still got time to push, and every penny counts. Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively - but we still need to fund research. The Foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it’s only the beginning.
“Doddie would be proud - but he’d be telling us to go further and faster. That’s why we’re doing this.”
All funds raised will support the Foundation’s mission to find effective treatments - and ultimately a cure - for motor neuron disease.
Donate or learn more here.