THE president of Winchester Rugby Club has cycled almost 500 miles to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

Rob Sanderson, 66, along with eight of his friends, set off from the club on June 26, arriving at Melrose Rugby Football Club in Scotland on July 2. The ride was partially in memory of sports columnist Doddie Weir OBE, who died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2022.

This was the sixth cycle ride that Rob has completed for the charity after his wife Kate died from MND in 2014. He said: “We started on the Monday, June 26, from the rugby club and we spent the next six days cycling up to Melrose Rugby Club. The reason for the two clubs is that I lost my wife to MND eight years ago, and we met at Winchester Rugby Club when I was first team skipper down there, and Doddie Weir started his career at Melrose Rugby Club and passed away from the same condition last November, so it completed the circle really.

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“We thought we should link up the two rugby clubs really and raise a few bob and awareness for MND at the same time. We left Winchester on Monday, arrived at Melrose on Saturday with a few personal and appropriate stops along the way to raise awareness.”

Stops included at the MNDA head offices in Northampton, Wake Field Trinity Rugby Stadium and The Leeds Rhinos Headingly Stadium. The group also took part in Doddie Weir’s memorial charity cycle ride on June 2.

Rob estimated that he raised approximately £10,000 for the charity during his latest ride, bringing the total he was raised for the Motor Neurone Disease Association up to £134,137 since 2014.

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He said: “It’s fantastic total – it’s for the events over the last seven years since I bought a bike.

“Thank you for everyone who has supported me over the years. I think they are all hoping I don’t do another one!

“I always say, after each one, I always say that’s the last one and have ended up doing another one! I have an idea for another ride, but we’re just going to have to see how it pans out.”