Jim Hamilton’s desperate plea to government over ‘stark and scary’ MND and six of the greatest sporting fundraisers named
Jim Hamilton and Billy Twelvetrees start the Ride Against Time today.
Jim Hamilton made an emotional plea to the Government as he and other friends of Ed Slater joined former England star Billy Twelvetrees on the Ride Against Time today.
Two years after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and taking part in the first edition of the 350-mile charity ride, Slater, 36, was wheelchair-bound as he waved the riders off at Kingsholm.
“We wish we weren’t doing this, we wish we weren’t coming together to do this cycle,” said Hamilton, the former Scotland lock, as the peloton headed for Leicester, onto Twickenham and back to Gloucester.
“Because that would mean Ed wasn’t in the position he is and MND wasn’t in his life. But this is where we are now. The demise is rapid, it’s stark and it’s scary. You’re watching that unfold before you.”
Search for a cure
Twelvetrees, who played alongside great pal Slater for Leicester and Gloucester, devised and named the challenge to reflect the urgency required in the search for a cure.
Ride Against Time sees the riders attempt to cover in 24 hours a route they gave themselves three days to complete in 2022.
“It has to be tough,” Twelvetrees explained. “Otherwise, it’s not going to be hitting home to people what having MND is about. It’s a cruel, cruel disease.”
This is the latest fundraiser organised by rugby union in support of those affected by MND, with the sport seemingly disproportionately affected.
Kevin Sinfield, rugby league legend turned England union coach, raised more than £15 million for MND charities with Rob Burrow after his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate was diagnosed in 2019.
Ed Jackson credits inspirational rugby figures and hails ‘real power’ of kindness
Before that, Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir fought a six-year battle with the disease, raising many millions and inspiring one and all along the way before his death in 2022.
The last government pledged £50 million towards MND research in 2021. Despite stalling on it until after Weir’s passing – the majority of that money has since been handed over to projects across the UK.
Asked if the current leadership need to do more, Hamilton said: “Well they do. When this disease is in your life you’re almost begging the government to accelerate the process around research.
“There is a desperation. There’s a desperation for Ed and his family, there’s a desperation for other people with MND who don’t have a voice.
“We’re begging, we’re pleading that there is some good news around the corner, because we don’t want all of this to be in vain. You see the devastation unfold before your eyes. It’s such a cruel disease.
“For now what we can do is wrap our arms around Ed and his family and others in the MND community. The disease feels so much closer than it ever has done.”
'If you drew a line from London to Edinburgh it would be shorter than the distance they are going to cover today'
Jayne McCubbin was in Gloucester as rugby union star Billy Twelvetrees led a team cycling 350 miles in 24 hours to support their former team mate Ed Slater who is… pic.twitter.com/5NvS7FYjY4
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 19, 2024
Research published recently suggests rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions have biological differences that may make them more prone to developing MND.
“I’m on the inside with World Rugby, doing some work for them,” said Hamilton. “I can assure you everything we get is around player safety.
“We need to accelerate that process. I know there is no significant evidence to say that MND and rugby, or collision sports, is a thing yet, but it comes down to research.
“What I will say is that I would not do the work I’m doing for World Rugby if I didn’t believe that player welfare is in the very forefront of the business. I’m not just saying that because I need a job. I don’t need a job. I’m there. I see it first hand.
“They’ve got a big job on their hands, right? It’s a contact sport. It’s a tough sport, a brutal sport. It needs to be safe. And, honestly, I feel the game is safer than it’s ever been.”
Six of the best fundraisers in sport
Kevin Sinfield
Rugby league legend. Has raised more than £15 million in four challenges support of the MND community. His fifth, later this year, will involve covering over 50km a day across seven regions across Britain and Northern Ireland, running each leg in 7km blocks starting on the hour every hour.
Rob Burrow
Diagnosed with MND in 2019, the former Leeds Rhinos star continued raising awareness and funds to help people living with MND until his death, leaving behind the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.
Doddie Weir
Scotland and Lions star who was diagnosed with MND in 2017 and, by the time of his death in 2022, had raised £8 million through his foundation. “Doddle’s big thing wasn’t about buying somebody a wheelchair, it was ‘how can I find a cure?’” explains pal Kenny Logan. “He quickly realised it wouldn’t come in time for him and changed his mindset to ‘this is not about me, it’s about the person who’s going to get it tomorrow, in eight years’ time. What can we do for them?”
Sir Ian Botham
England cricket legend who raised more than £30 million for charities (mainly leukaemia research) over 32 years on 18 epic walks around the world, sparked by a chance encounter with kids with leukaemia in a children’s ward in Taunton.
Alastair Hignell
Former rugby international and first-class cricketer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and has spent ever since actively fund-raising for Multiple Sclerosis UK, of which he has been patron since 2002.
Lawrence Dallaglio
England and Lions international who set up Dallaglio RugbyWorks to help improve the odds of youngsters between the ages of 12 and 18 who have been excluded from school. For 14 years his Cycle Slam bike rides across Europe have raised more than £8 million.
