Thursday, 22 February 2024
Fundraising
A unique JCB tartan tractor has rolled off the production line at Staffordshire's JCB Landpower factory honouring Scottish rugby legend and motor neuron disease (MND) campaigner Doddie Weir.
The Fastrac 4220 iCON, wrapped in Doddie’s own tartan, was welcomed off the Cheadle production line by Doddie's son Angus Weir, ready to report for fundraising duty with My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Scottish and British & Irish Lions international, Doddie, who died of MND aged 52 in 2022, founded the charity to fund research, with the vision of a world free of MND. So far, more than £11 million has been committed to vital research in his name and the Foundation is dedicated to funding the smartest, most efficient MND research to accelerate the development of new treatments.
The Doddie iCON Fastrac is the brainchild of Doddie’s schoolfriend and Director of Crop Services in the Scottish Borders, Douglas Stephen, who joined Angus for the unveiling. Douglas operates a number of Fastrac tractors, and approached his JCB Dealer, Kelso-based Scot Agri, to build a special edition machine in support of the Foundation.
The blue and yellow tartan tractor will make appearances at major agricultural shows and rugby games north of the border over the coming months, raising funds for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The grand tour will begin at the Royal Northern Spring Show in Inverurie on 28 February before moving on to the Fife, Northumberland, Royal Highland, Border Union, Perth Shows and many other agricultural events over the summer.
Angus Weir said: “It has been fantastic to be here to unveil the new Doddie tartan tractor. Dad would have absolutely loved it and I’m sure it will turn a lot of heads, raise a lot of smiles, and help continue his fundraising legacy.”
For Douglas Stephen it was an emotional day.
Our Doddie was born into a farming family, was part of the farming community and loved tractors. He was also always accustomed to wearing big, bright, garish tartan suits, so this is right up his street. What JCB has done is beyond all expectations and they have really pulled out all the stops. Doddie was a great friend who is sorely missed and this will help us to keep his memory and MND legacy alive.
Our Director of Fundraising and Communications, Paul Thompson, added: “We are incredibly excited about this collaboration with JCB and expect it to raise a great deal of awareness of both motor neuron disease and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The Fastrac looks brilliant, and we can’t wait to see the look on people’s faces when nine tonnes of tartan tractor arrive at one of our events.
“When the tractor was unveiled, it was a real lump in the throat moment. Doddie was a farmer and loved his tractors, so we know that this collaboration would have meant a lot to him.”
JCB Territory Manager Sam Taylor said: "For JCB it is an honour to support the incredible work of My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. Doddie Weir was an icon, not only in the way that he played his rugby, but also in the way he handled his MND diagnosis, setting an example of bravery, and inspiring others.
“The JCB Doddie iCON Edition Fastrac is a great example of teamwork - bringing together an amazing charity, a valued JCB customer, our brilliant dealer network, designers, and production team. We hope it will raise greater awareness of the condition and fund more research to find a cure for MND.”
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