Doddie Aid is a virtual mass-participation exercise event which raises funds for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, one of the official charity partners of The British & Irish Lions, who invest in research to find meaningful treatments for motor neurone disease (MND) and, one day, a cure. It takes place over a period of five weeks from January 1 with any exercise counting, and it was founded by former Scotland captain and British & Irish Lion Rob Wainwright back in 2021. Wainwright presented the match ball to Sir Chris on Sunday following an epic bike ride from Dublin to Edinburgh, as the 29 participating teams rode around 750 miles in five days for Doddie’s Grand Tour. My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was launched in 2017 after Scotland and Lions great Doddie Weir was diagnosed with MND. In December 2024, the charity announced it had committed more than £18 million to research on the condition.

Wainwright, back on familiar turf, was wearing the blue and yellow tartan that has become synonymous with My Name’5 Doddie as he gave the ball to Sir Chris. During a stellar track cycling career, Sir Chris won six Olympic gold medals as well 11 world titles, retiring a year after the London 2012 Games. He revealed in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and then in October 2024, announced that his condition was terminal. A keen rugby fan, Sir Chris received an emotional ovation from the fans in attendance at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.