Lewis Moody has revealed he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease learning of his condition, a fortnight ago.
The former England captain took to social media on Monday morning to share the news expressing that it’s ‘been incredibly hard to process and a huge shock to me and my family’.
The 47-year-old, who was part of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side enjoyed a distinguished career – lifting multiple English and European titles with Leicester Tigers as well as becoming a Test British and Irish Lion.
Moody is the latest rugby player to suffer this diagnosis after Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow – who have both sadly passed – and Ed Slater.
Lewis Moody’s statement on MND diagnosis
In his statement on X, Moody wrote: ‘I am sharing some tough news. I have recently been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
‘This has been incredibly hard to process and a huge shock to me and my family.
‘I feel fit and well in myself and I’m focused on staying positive, living life and dealing with the changes I will experience as they come.
‘I am being well supported by my family, friends and medical professionals and I’m truly grateful to those who, in their time, helped progress research to support others like me living with this disease,” Moody said.
‘Since retiring from the sport I love, and alongside my wife Annie, I’ve been able to dedicate much of the past 12 years to fundraising for The Lewis Moody Foundation in support of those affected by brain tumours.
‘My plan is to continue with this but to also create an opportunity to support a charity closer to my current situation. I would be so grateful for your help with this and look forward to sharing more, once I am clear on what this looks like.
‘For now, please know I feel your love and support; all I ask is that I am given some space to navigate this with my wife and sons, and those close to us – but without doubt, I will continue to embrace life and grasp opportunities in the same way I always have.’
Lewis Moody on discovering he has MND
Speaking to BBC Breakfast alongside his wife Annie, Moody said he learned of his MND diagnosis after noticing some weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym. After failing to get better from physiotherapy for six-eight weeks, multiple scans showed nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged as a result of MND.
‘You’re given this diagnosis of MND and we’re rightly quite emotional about it, but it’s so strange because I feel like nothing’s wrong,’ he added.
‘I don’t feel ill. I don’t feel unwell. My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder.
‘I’m still capable of doing anything and everything. And hopefully that will continue for as long as is possible.’
Emotional Moody on the impact of MND diagnosis
During the interview, an understandably emotional Moody expressed the difficulty of telling his loved ones – including his mum and two teenage sons Dylan, 17, and Ethan, 15.
‘It’s never me that I feel sad for. It’s the sadness around having to tell my mum – as an only child – and the implications that has for her.’
On telling his sons, he added: ‘It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. They are two brilliant boys and that was pretty heartbreaking.
‘We sat on the couch in tears, Ethan and Dylan both wrapped up in each other, then the dog jumped over and started licking the tears off our faces, which was rather sweet.’
