Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and has vowed to “continue to embrace life” with the support of his family
Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody and his wife Annie were moved to tears during a BBC interview following the announcement of his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis. The 47-year-old Leicester Tigers icon, father to two teenage boys, made the “incredibly hard” revelation on Monday morning.
He shared that the diagnosis he received a fortnight ago was a “huge shock” to him and his family, but pledged to “continue to embrace life” with their backing. Speaking with Sally Nugent on BBC Breakfast, Moody disclosed that he found out about his MND after experiencing some weakness in his shoulder at the gym.
Despite undergoing physiotherapy, the issue persisted and subsequent scans revealed that nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged by MND.
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“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 expressed. “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.
“There’s something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute,” he said, discussing the full implications of his condition. “It’s not that I don’t understand where it’s going. We understand that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now.”
Motor Neurone Disease claims the lives of a third of people within a year and over half within two years of diagnosis, according to the MND Association. It makes swallowing and breathing more challenging, with treatment only slowing the progression.
As he discussed the impact on his family – including his mother and sons Dylan, 17, and Ethan, 15 – the former British and Irish Lions back-rower was visibly moved, saying: “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.
“[Telling my sons] 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 silly.”
“There is no cure and that is why you have to be so militantly focused on just embracing and enjoying everything now,” he added.
“As Annie said, we’ve been really lucky that the only real decision I made when I retired from playing was to spend as much time with the kids as possible. We don’t get those years back.”
Revealing his diagnosis on social media on Monday morning, Moody – who earned 71 caps for England – wrote: “I’m writing to share 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,” he added.
“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 closest to us – but without doubt, I will continue to embrace life and grasp opportunities in the same way I always have. Take care, Lewis.”