Bike riders from the Vale of Clwyd will roll off this week on an epic 1,000-mile four country charity cycle trek to raise cash for rugby star Doddie Weir\u2019s motor neurone disease (MND) charity.<\/p>\n
Denbigh doctors Tomos Watkin and Matt Davies will join veteran campaigner Rob Boyns from Ruthin on the ride to raise money for the My Name\u20195 Doddie campaign which begins at Lymm Rugby Club in Cheshire on Sunday, February 2.<\/p>\n
They are part of a 16-strong team of cyclists tackling Doddie\u2019s Grand Tour and being sponsored by Denbigh-based business Lock Stock Self Storage and other local firms Henllan Bakery, G and G Motors, Steve Mellor and Jones Brothers.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first time on the ride for Tomos but it\u2019s a third time for Matt and ride veteran Rob, who runs Ruthin IT firm Boyns.net, is taking part in his fourth and is the Wales Team Captain for the ride.<\/p>\n
Tomos said: \u201cWe\u2019ve all been in training, including some in bad weather and heavy rain to get us used to the conditions we could be facing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be really tough in Scotland when we\u2019re doing three days of 200-mile rides and who knows what the conditions will be like but it\u2019s such a good cause.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rob added: \u201cIt\u2019s great to have two doctors on the road with us as they know just how important it is to crack the cure for this terrible disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very grateful to Lock Stock and other companies for supporting us and Henllan Bakery have even given us 16 boxes of cakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be tough though \u2013 there are over 10,000 metres of climbing in Scotland and three days when we\u2019ll ride over 200 miles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Wales, we\u2019ll be meeting children from local schools and telling them about the history of rugby and the importance of being a team player in sport or in cultural activities and the importance of the team ethos as you develop into adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in a very privileged position to be able to take part in an event like this and it wouldn\u2019t be possible without the support of people like Lock Stock which is brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lock Stock North East Wales Area Manager Rob Jones said: \u201cThe incredible work that Rob, Tom and Matt are doing in undergoing a massive test across four countries is staggering.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as we heard about the mammoth task and their cause Lock Stock immediately wanted to be involved and to make a contribution, so to meet up with the lads and discuss the ride in detail and wish them well beforehand was a privilege.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to wish everyone involved across all stages of the journey the very best and hopefully they\u2019ll raise a large amount for a brilliant cause.<\/p>\n
The Doddie ride celebrates the late Scotland and British Lions forward\u2019s brave campaign against MND alongside fellow sports stars like Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Rob Burrow.<\/p>\n
The first stop is Ysgol Cerrigydrudion, followed by Clwb Rygbi Nant Conwy before the riders head up the A5 to Clwb Rygbi Bethesda and then Holyhead to cross to Dublin and on to Belfast before crossing the sea to Stranraer in Scotland for the final arduous 750-mile four-day leg of the journey.<\/p>\n
It will take them as far north as Aberdeen before they arrive in Edinburgh with the match ball the day before the Scotland v Ireland Six Nations rugby international at Murrayfield on Sunday, February 9.<\/p>\n
The ride is being led by another doctor, former Scotland and Lions flanker Rob Wainwright while the team including the three Vale of Clwyd riders hopes to raise \u00a360,000 for the charity \u2013 they have already had \u00a330,000 committed.<\/p>\n
Riding with them is Anglesey comedian Tudur Owen and three former rugby internationals, Wales\u2019s Tony Copsey and Scotland duo Lion Roger Baird and Iwan Tukalo while their 16-strong cycling team is backed by 12 support staff.<\/p>\n
To donate to Matt, Tomos, Rob and their team and for more information about their challenge go to https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/team\/slammers-scotland2025<\/a><\/p>\n