500 Miles for MND
1459. Davy Zyw
Davy Zyw, from Edinburgh, has completed Scotland’s North Coast 500 cycle, raising over £100,000 for Motor Neurone Disease charity ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’.
Davy was diagnosed with MND two years ago at the age of 30, and decided to take on the challenge with his family to raise awareness and support research into MND while he is still physically able. All proceeds are supporting the charity set up by former Scottish Rugby player Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with MND in 2017 and launched his own foundation to improve the lives of others affected by the condition and aid investigations into potential cures.
In a personal letter to Davy, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I am delighted to congratulate you on the stunning feat of cycling 500 miles across the coast of Scotland and raising £100,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
“I am lost in admiration for the fortitude with which you have responded to your diagnosis and for all that you have done to promote awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and to raise vital funds for research into it.”
Davy said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been awarded with Points of Light. I am humbled to be with such esteemed company of inspirational winners. When I got diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease two years ago, I thought I would be strapped to a ventilator by now and instead I have just completed a 500 bike ride in 4 days, raised over £116,000 pounds for MND and this award is the cherry on top! The response and support has been incredible, and I just hope through my journey with the disease and my bike, we can inspire positive change.”
Jill Douglas, CEO of ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’, said:
“A huge thank you to Davy and his team for their wonderful efforts on our behalf. Davy’s energy and drive are amazing and I am delighted he is to be recognised in this way. He is a remarkable young man and one of thousands of people who have quite literally gone the extra mile to help ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’. Like all charities, we have been affected by the global pandemic, and the funds raised by Davy and his supporters will allow us to continue with our goals, to help find meaningful treatments and a cure for MND and to help people, like Davy and Doddie, who are living with this devastating disease.”
Pictured below: Davy and family on their 500 mile ride on the Scottish North Coast and celebrating completing the challenge (credit Alex Tredway)
