Hong Kong Scottish RFC announces fundraising partnership with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation

Hong Kong Scottish RFC have announced a fundraising partnership with us for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

One of the best known and most well-loved figures in Scottish rugby, George ‘Doddie’ Weir OBE earned 61 caps for Scotland and was known for his sense of humour, storytelling capability, and bravery in the face of his motor neuron disease (MND) diagnosis.

In 2017, Doddie and his trustees launched My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, with the simple vision of a world free of MND. We are committed to MND research, developing and upholding 5 key pillars: research, support, awareness, sustainability, and love, fun & hope. We are also a registered charity in Hong Kong, with the annual fundraising gala a highlight of many a rugby calendar.

Hong Kong Scottish RFC Chairman Arrann Young is extremely proud of the fundraising partnership, which will see front of jersey amplification, fundraising efforts, and support for the Foundation throughout the season across all sections. He reflects:

“There can be few people in international rugby so widely respected or overwhelmingly loved as Doddie Weir. Our own ties with the great man go back to our very foundations - with Doddie agreeing to be one of our founding patrons - a gesture made even more remarkable as he had only just been diagnosed. When it came to the naming rights for the coming season it made sense for us to form a fundraising partnership with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation - a charity that raises much needed funds for research into finding a cure for this dreadful disease. We will therefore be known as My Name’5 Doddie (MND) Hong Kong Scottish and will continue supporting the fantastic work done by the Foundation, whilst harnessing Doddie’s indominable spirit on and off the field.”

Doddie’s son Hamish has also visited Hong Kong several times in support of the Foundation and is equally excited for the coming season’s fundraising partnership:

“I’m absolutely delighted to hear about the support for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation from Hong Kong Scottish. I know my father was incredibly fond of his trips to Hong Kong and in recent visits we have shared some incredibly special memories with the rugby community there - I have no doubt it will be a prosperous relationship and long may it continue.”

MND Hong Kong Scottish men will kick off their season this Saturday 28 September at 4.00pm at Shek Kip Mei (fondly known as The Rock), in a re-match of last year’s Grand Championship final against Hong Kong Football Club. The women’s season will start slightly later on 26 October to accommodate the WXV tournament currently being played in Dubai.

For more information on MND Hong Kong Scottish, visit www.hongkongscottish.com or contact Charlotte Hancock: gm@hongkongscottish.com