The ‘Weir Dancing for Doddie’ Charitable Dinner and Dance 2025, held on 28 February, has raised an outstanding £101,444 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
The event welcomed 600 guests to the P&J Live for a night of entertainment and dancing thanks to Robert Gordon’s College Pipe band, and live band ‘Madhen’.
Co-organiser, Annie Kenyon of Annie Kenyon Architects said: “It was an electric night of love, laughter and fun, but everyone in the room came along with one purpose and one vision, to help find the cure to Motor Neurone Disease (MND) by supporting the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.”
Annie’s fellow organisers were Duncan Barton, Megan Stephen and Lisa Buchanan.
Many speakers took to the stage to share their fundraising stories and those living with MND. Duncan Barton captivated the guests with an inspiring insight into last year’s 700-mile Doddie Foundation Edinburgh to France cycling journey with Scottish Rugby legend Kenny Logan. This year, Duncan, Kenny, and fellow cyclists will embark on another challenge ‘Doddie’5 Lions Challenge’ – a 555-mile cycle around Ireland taking place over 5 days and finishing in Dublin – just in time for the British and Irish Lions 1888 Cup match on the 20th June.
The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was set up in 2017 by former Scotland rugby player and farmer Doddie Weir to raise funds for research into finding a cure for MND – the illness that also took his life in 2022. Doddie was well respected within the farming community, and this was further demonstrated by the high attendance of north east farmers at the fundraising dinner.
“Motor Neurone Disease can be treated – it’s just underfunded,” said Annie in her speech.
“The fun and passion in the atmosphere here show what an incredible community we live in – everyone is so generous. I won’t stop fundraising until that cure is found! Together we can make a difference in the fight against MND.”
Sara Pope, artist of an evocative lip portrait, and her model Yvonne Johnson, who faced the devastation of losing her voice to MND joined the event. The powerful messaging behind the artwork illustrated the importance of a voice. The painting was auctioned on Friday for £15,500 – the highest bid of the night.
British rugby union player Ryan Wilson hosted the live auction with the help of local auctioneer Ellis Mutch. Guests “dug deep and bid high,” particularly on a net of twelve neeps – going for a whopping £4000. The silent online auction continued into Sunday and was also very successful.
“A huge thank you to host Steven J Innes, to sponsors David Duncan at Harper UK, Darren Walker at Laing’s and Chris and Clare Clark at John Clark Motor Group, design and print agency CP & Co, and to all the local businesses for their generous raffle donations. Our utmost appreciation also goes to our guests – we couldn’t have done it without you,” Megan Stephen said.
“Together, we’re not just raising funds; we’re raising voices, raising awareness, and raising hope. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone for supporting this event.”
For more information on Motor Neurone Disease, and to get involved in raising funds the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, visit their website here: https://www.myname5doddie.co.uk