Lewis Moody's 500-Mile Charity Cycling Challenge

Lewis Moody, the former England rugby captain, is set to undertake a remarkable 500-mile cycling challenge this June to raise funds and awareness in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND). Diagnosed with MND in October, Moody, alongside several former teammates, will cycle for seven days leading up to the Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on June 20.

The challenge will kick off at Kingston Park, home of the Newcastle Red Bulls, and will include stops at his former clubs, Leicester Tigers and Bath, as well as Bracknell RFC, where Moody began his rugby journey at just five years old. This initiative is not only a personal endeavor for Moody but also a significant fundraising effort for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (MNDF), a leading charity established by the late Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir.

The MNDF has committed over £23.5 million to MND research programs and has provided more than £2 million to families affected by the disease. Moody will be joined by fellow 2003 World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Tindall, as well as his teenage sons, Dylan and Ethan, making this a family affair.

"Since retiring from playing in 2012, I’ve taken on a fundraising challenge every year, and I’m determined to do the same in 2026, despite living with MND," Moody stated. He emphasized the importance of camaraderie and support in facing such challenges, saying, "This is about far more than the miles. It’s about people – mates coming together, supporting each other, and finding strength in camaraderie."

Moody’s cycling challenge is set to begin on June 14, and he will also have the honor of delivering the match ball at Twickenham before the Premiership decider. With 71 caps for England and a tour with the British and Irish Lions in 2005, Moody has been a prominent figure in rugby. After his retirement, he founded The Lewis Moody Foundation to raise awareness of brain tumors in children and has now turned his focus to supporting the MNDF following his own diagnosis.

"The [My Name’5 Doddie] foundation has done incredible work," he remarked. "Doddie was a pioneer and a force of nature. I feel that I am being brought off the bench to take that baton forward and trying to get this job done."

Moody is committed to using his platform to make a significant impact in the fight against MND, stating, "I want to have the biggest impact possible. There is a slightly selfish element to the next part of this, which is the cycle challenge, as I have done a challenge every year since retiring. I don’t know how many I have got left to do, so the reason for it being so soon is to ensure that I can contribute and get through it."

The Lewis Moody & Friends Cycle Challenge will take place from June 14-20, 2026, covering a distance of 500 miles from Kingston Park Stadium to Allianz Stadium. For more information or to support the challenge, visit Lewis Moody Cycle Challenge.