Thursday, 07 August 2025
Fundraising, Research
In March, Professor Patrick Lewis, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation-funded researcher and Professor of Neuroscience at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, laced up his trainers and ran the Reading Half Marathon for us.
Patrick was keen to give something back while raising funds and awareness of MND. He said: “I grew up watching Doddie playing rugby, and have many memories of him playing for Scotland and the British and Irish Lions. Doddie’s commitment to funding research and developing treatments through establishing his own Foundation was inspirational.
“I was deeply honoured to be funded by the Foundation last year. The research is looking at a gene called TBK1 (tee-bee-kay-one). If this gene is faulty (and less active), it can cause people to develop MND. So, we have been looking to understand ways to switch on TBK1, making it more active and potentially reversing the problems it causes in motor neurons. The ultimate goal is to find ways to do this that could be used as treatments for MND.”
Juggling his training runs around his job in the lab and two young daughters (aged eight and ten) was a challenge, but on race day Patrick “managed to get round in one piece...just.”
Reflecting on his highlights he said: “The Reading Half finishes in the Reading Football Club stadium – there are lots of people in the crowds cheering you on, and a real adrenaline rush as you run into the stadium. This was a huge pick-me-up – my legs were pretty much done by that point! The other highlight was running past one of the pubs on the route, where they were handing out plastic cups of high-carbohydrate isotonic liquid, also known as beer.
To anyone considering taking on a challenge or running a rather long race for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in the future, just go for it. I struggle to think of a better cause, and it’s absolutely brilliant to see people recognising the charity and cheering you on!
You can read more about Patrick’s project and the other research we fund on our research projects page.
To find out more about how you can support research like Patrick’s by donating to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, click here.
Keen to raise some funds for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation yourself? Visit our take action page to sign up for a challenge or find out how to hold your own fundraising event. Whether you’re running a half marathon, hosting a pub quiz or hopping on your bike, every effort takes us one step closer to our vision: a world free of MND.
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