Arklow Rugby Football Club is set to host over 350 cyclists at the club grounds on Friday, 13th March from 11.30 – 1.00 pm. Participants cycling under the charity ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ aims to raise funds for research into Motor Neuron Disease. The local community is welcome to the club to meet the cyclists and watch a local blitz involving competing primary schools.
Arklow Rugby Football Club (ARFC) is scheduled to host ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ charity cycle on 13 March 2026 from 11.30.- 1.00 pm at the club grounds. The cycle, aimed at raising funds for research in Motor Neuron Disease, will be jointly led by Ireland’s Gordon D’Arcy, capped 81 times for Ireland, and Scotland’s Rob Wainright who played 36 times for the Scottish national side. The Foundation is hoping to exceed the stg£1 million raised last year.
The 4-day challenge of some 800 miles leaves Melrose, Scotland, on Tuesday, 10th March. Participating teams will cycle to Holyhead, cross the Irish Sea via Rosslare and continue the Irish leg of the journey, stopping at Arklow’s club grounds before travelling to Dublin. Cyclists will carry the match ball for the eagerly anticipated Ireland v Scotland match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 14th March.
Pettitt’s Supermarket, Arklow, has come on board as the local lead sponsor supplying and serving refreshments to the participating teams. A rugby blitz involving participating primary schools will also take place and Club members will be on hand to support participating charity cycle teams.
Commenting on the event, Tony Gordon, President of Arklow RFC said: “This is a wonderful occasion and Arklow RFC is proud as part of the global rugby family and as part of the Arklow community to do its part in raising funds for the Foundation. Our club celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and we’re honoured that the Foundation organisers have decided to stop at our club on 13th March. We’re looking forward to the local community joining us. We’re especially grateful to Pettits Arklow for its sponsorship, and to the local schools participating in the rugby blitz. Hopefully Leinster’s Leo the Lion won’t escape with the international match ball before it arrives in the Aviva”.
‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ takes its name from Doddie Weir OBE, one of rugby’s most recognisable personalities. With 61 Scottish caps, Doddie represented the British and Irish Lions on their successful tour to South Africa in 1997, and won championships with his two club sides, Melrose and Newcastle Falcons. In June 2017, Doddie revealed he was suffering from Motor Neuron Disease (MND). From the outset, he was driven to help others living with MND and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease.
In November 2017, Doddie and his trustees launched the registered charity, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Its vision is simple: A World Free of MND. The number “5” is a special number for the Foundation. It features in the Foundation’s name and is a reference to Doddie’s playing number for his clubs and for Scotland.
