A BBC Breakfast guest has issued an update on Lewis Moody after his heartbreaking MND diagnosis.
The 47-year-old former England rugby captain revealed in September that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
Since then, more than £200,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page, set up by Lewis’s friends and former Leicester Tigers teammates Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd.
Rugby League legend Kevin Sinfield, who has raised over £10 million for those impacted by MND, appeared on BBC Breakfast on Monday (November 24), where he shared an update on Lewis with hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay.
Kevin is set to take on his sixth endurance challenge to raise funds for the MND community. He will run seven ultra marathons in seven days across seven cities or regions next month.
While appearing on BBC Breakfast, Kevin revealed that he hopes Lewis will join him for part of the challenge.
“We’ve seen, haven’t we, in recent weeks, former England player, Lewis Moody, diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease,” Sally began.
“He spoke to us about his diagnosis and he was saying that initially, in the first few weeks, the challenge has been mental rather than physical. How important is it that people who are diagnosed get that support about trying to get a mindset where they can take this challenge on, and not feel like they’ve been left alone?”
Kevin replied: “Yeah, that’s the great thing about pulling people together, pulling the community together. We’re hoping Lewis will join us. I’ve been in touch with him.
“I think people who are diagnosed will take strength from Doddie [Weir], from Rob [Burrow], from Syd Lawrence, from Stephen Darby, from Marcus Stewart, Ed Slater – I can keep reeling some of those champions who have fought so bravely against MND.
“Lewis will take strength from that, but he will also pick the baton up. He’s won a World Cup, he’s undertaken loads of different challenges.”
Kevin continued: “I think for people out there, people with normal jobs who don’t have the profile that sports people have had. To see what the sports people have done makes it far easier for them to fight too, and show the courage they do. There are so many great people we’ve met.”
Speaking on BBC Breakfast shortly after his diagnosis in October, Lewis previously shared: “You’re given this diagnosis of MND and we’re rightly quite emotional about it, but it’s so strange because I feel like nothing’s wrong.
“I don’t feel ill. I don’t feel unwell. My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder. I’m still capable of doing anything and everything. And hopefully that will continue for as long as is possible.”
BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from the MND Association. The charity’s helpline MND Connect (0808 802 6262) is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and 7pm to 10.30pm
