Tractor run raises thousands for Doddie Weir MND charity
© Craig Stephen Photography More than 250 Scottish farmers broke off from a busy harvesting period to take part in a tractor run to raise thousands of pounds for motor neurone disease (MND).
A JCB Fastrac wrapped in tartan driven by Scottish farmer Sandy Duffus, who was recently diagnosed with the disease, led the convoy on Wednesday 14 August.
He drove the unique JCB Fastrac 4220 iCon during the ‘Doddie the iCON’ Tractor Run, to raise funds for Scottish rugby legend and farmer Doddie Weir, who lost his battle with MND, aged 52, in 2022.
See also: Will’s World: Doddie Weir was an inspirational force of nature
The run saw a convoy of more than 250 tractors travel from Haughs in Turriff to Thainstone Mart, Inverurie. Many spectators came out of their homes to cheer them on.
Sandy Duffus © Jane Craigie Media
The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation aims to find a cure for MND, a disease that affects approximately 5,000 adults in the UK at any given time. Despite raising more than £11m, the foundation continues its efforts to find a cure.
As of Thursday 15 August, the tractor run had raised a staggering £38,000 for the foundation.
The initiative is driven by two businesses, Annie Kenyon Architects Ltd and Agricultural Machinery Specialists CC Powell Ltd, both of which have been committed to fundraising for the foundation.
Earlier this month, they raised more than £20,000 at the Turriff Show.
MND diagnoses
In the UK, about 1,100 people are diagnosed with MND each year.
“Symptoms include spontaneous twitching, fatigue, weight loss, muscle cramps and difficulty in speech and swallowing,” explained local architect, Annie Kenyon, who lost her mother to the disease in 2021.
Annie was inspired by her loss to raise money for the charity.
To donate to the Doddie Weir MND foundation, please visit the fundraising page.