Graduate charity cyclist helps raise over £1 million for motor neurone disease research
Class of 2021 graduate Fergus Mainland recently embarked on an epic 1,000km cross-country cycle to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, a charity established in memory of former Scottish rugby union player George Wilson "Doddie" Weir OBE.
1 May 2026
Politics alumnus and former NUSU Athletic Union Officer takes part in third charity cycle ride in memory of sporting hero Doddie Weir
An avid rugby fan, Newcastle University graduate Fergus Mainland was hit hard when Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir died in 2022 from motor neurone disease (MND).
Having been a sportsman himself since childhood, including on campus with the Newcastle Rowing Club, Fergus quickly got involved in activities organised by the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Doddie’s legacy, to help find a cure for MND.
In the past four years, Fergus has taken part in three cycling events to raise money for the foundation and raise awareness of MND, with the most recent challenge taking him right through the heart of Newcastle on the 800-mile journey from across all four nations in the UK!
Passing through campus with his fellow charity cyclers as they headed to Dublin for Scotland’s Six Nation clash with Ireland, we caught up with Fergus to hear more about his motivation for embarking on the cycle challenge and the difference he hopes the money raised will make.
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Pedalling for a world free of MND
I’ve always been involved in sport since childhood, and rugby was my first passion – it’s the one that I love watching and engaging with. When I was younger, Scottish rugby didn’t have a huge amount of success but in the nineties when they were on a high, Doddie Weir was a big character in that.
When it was announced that Doddie had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), I think it hit everyone in the Scottish rugby community hard. But we’re a close-knit community, and we quickly rallied around to raise some money to find a cure. I first got involved in DoddieAid activities during the COVID-19 lockdown and today I am proud to have been involved in all three of the annual cycling challenges in aid of the foundation, raising millions for MND research.
Ultimately, MND isn’t incurable - it’s just underfunded. There was a real feeling of pedalling hope throughout this challenge. Over 30 teams and more than 400 cyclists took part this year, showing the ability of Doddie’s legacy to bring communities together, all in the name of something bigger than themselves. The foundation will leave no stone unturned as they work towards their goal of a world free from MND. It affects millions of people, whether they are diagnosed with it or know someone who has it. These rides are for all of them.
Ultimately, motor neurone disease isn’t incurable – it’s just underfunded.
Rain, gale-force winds and a cancelled ferry – but we made it!
For our Triple Crown cycle challenge, we covered 1,000km from Melrose in Scotland, where Doddie spent his final days, to Dublin, where the Scottish national team were taking on Ireland in the Six Nations. This is the third challenge we’ve done, and the third time Scotland has lost the match we’re travelling to. I hope the two aren’t related!
The most challenging part of the four-day ride was definitely the weather, especially through Wales. Sadly, Wales lived up to its stereotype of being wet, and on this occasion, we also faced 60mph winds, making our ride from Brecon to the ferry terminal at Pembroke incredibly difficult. With the sun setting and being battered by the conditions on the side of the dual carriageway, the only road into Pembroke, we certainly had to dig deep!
Because of the conditions, our original ferry across to Rosslare was cancelled and we were delayed leaving Wales by 18 hours. Logistically, it was a huge mountain to get over, but the organisers and the charity did a cracking job to ensure everyone got to the finish line safely.
As ever, though, the highlight was the camaraderie on the road. The support from drivers and pedestrians was fantastic as soon as they saw the Doddie tartan.
Image credit: Anna Van de Braak
A warm welcome back to the Toon
We arrived into Newcastle via the west, and as a former Newcastle University rower it was really special cycling past the Boat Club in Newburn, before continuing my university pilgrimage to St. James’ Park and the centre of campus, the iconic Arches. Tyne ARC and former Newcastle students Kat Bulmer and Anna Van de Braak were incredibly kind welcoming us into the Boat Club for lunch and a cuppa before we cracked on along the Scotswood Road, which was much appreciated. It took me back to my student days, being on the water in summer after exams had finished and watching four boats side-by-side, racing each other.
I spent five wonderful years in Newcastle, first as a Politics student and then as the Athletic Union Officer at Newcastle University Students’ Union. After spending my first year living in Windsor Terrace, the remainder of my time (when not interrupted by the pandemic) was spent living with friends from rowing in Jesmond. Each January 25th, we still get together to have a traditional Burns Night Supper – despite living all across the country nowadays!
I’m also still connected to the rowing club, as a trustee for the Blue Star Foundation, which supports current student rowers through donations and fundraising. Over the years the foundation has helped purchase boats and equipment for the students as well as giving graduates an opportunity to come together and race throughout the year. Being able to have an impact on the next generation of Newcastle rowers is a fantastic feeling.
Rowing is also a big part of my professional career as I provide commentary for international events. It’s been a busy winter culminating with working on the international feed for the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race, with exciting trips to Bulgaria and Amsterdam with World Rowing coming soon!
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