A service to celebrate the life of Doddie Weir has been arranged to take place before Christmas, with Scots asked to wear tartan at the memorial event.
The rugby legend died at the age of 52 last week after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2017. The former Scotland international spent his final years campaigning and fundraising for MND - and his charity, the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, said a memorial will take place at Melrose Parish Church, in Roxburghshire, on Monday December 19 at 1pm.
Organisers have asked people to wear any form of tartan at the service 'as requested by Doddie'. The charity advised numbers at the church service will be restricted but all are welcome to watch a live stream of the memorial held at Melrose Rugby Club.
There has been a specific request for no flowers - but donations, if desired, may be sent to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Rugby supporters attending Edinburgh’s game against Munster on Friday evening have also been urged to wear tartan.
Dedicating the last five years of his life to raising money and awareness about the condition, Doddie became one of the world’s leading MND campaigners. Despite being told he would be unable to walk within a year of his diagnosis, he defied doctors for four years before the muscle-wasting condition took the use of his arms and legs completely.
His wife Kathy told how he had been “an inspirational force of nature” - adding the 6ft 6in sportsman was as brave off the field as he was on it - as he raised £8 million for MND research.
She said: “His unending energy and drive and his strength of character powered him through his rugby and business careers and, we believe, enabled him to fight the effects of MND for so many years.
“Doddie put the same energy and even more love and fun into our lives together – he was a true family man. It is difficult to put into words how much we will miss him.
“MND took so much from Doddie but never his spirit and determination. He battled MND so bravely and, while his own battle may be over, his fight continues through his foundation until a cure is found for all those with this devastating disease. Doddie was an inspirational force of nature.”
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