Impact Report 1 Nov 2019 – 31 Oct 2020 Contents Introduction 01 Introduction and 2020 highlights It is fair to say that 2020 has been a challenging As we celebrate our 3rd anniversary, we are 02 Message from our Chairman year for us all. The coronavirus outbreak has delighted to have committed £3.2 million to 03 A few words from Doddie affected the way we all go about our daily lives. research projects and over £1 million to people 04 Raising funds Ongoing restrictions have had a major impact on all living with MND. This is only possible through the 08 Supporting medical research charities and we are no different, with many events support and efforts of our fantastic fundraisers 12 Helping people affected by MND cancelled or postponed. But we continue to who are inspired by Doddie and his positive 16 Our trustees receive amazing support and remain committed to approach to life and who share our ambition. 17 Our team and founder our vision of a world free of motor neuron disease. 18 Financial summary 20 What’s next? In the year to 31 October 2020: £2,204,293 was collected through fundraising activities £418,119 was granted to medical research projects £402,992 was given in grants to help sufferers of MND 01 Message from our Chairman A few words from Doddie Little did we know that the Covid-19 global I’d like to thank Fin Calder and Gary Armstrong “ My two favourite four-letter words are ‘Hope’ and Another highlight has been meeting up with Rob pandemic would have such an impact on us all for all that they did to get the Foundation up ‘Cure’. Like many people with MND, I use them a lot. Burrow and Stephen Darby. We are all in the same and clearly this has affected many charitable and running. They stepped down as trustees The last year has been a big challenge for Hope, for boat and have developed a special bond which has organisations. However, I am delighted to report during the year but I was delighted to welcome the fight for a Cure, and for all of us. I know I am very helped keep us going through this last difficult year. that so many supporters thought ‘out the box’ our new trustees Eric Lowe and Annabel Howel lucky: I live in beautiful countryside, have a noisy And the support of Sally Nugent and BBC Breakfast and continued to find creative and imaginative during the course of the year. Jill Douglas our family and an accessible garden. Not everyone with has really lifted the profile of MND to another level. ways to continue to raise funds for the CEO and Sean McGrath our Medical Strategy MND is as fortunate. That is why the extra financial My biggest frustration is the impact of Covid-19 and Foundation. From online Zoom quiz nights and Lead also deserve special mention as does Jim support our Foundation has given to MNDA and MND the lockdowns on research trial progress. But I’m events, to cycling events and outdoor pursuits, a Roberston who looks after our finances and Scotland to fund support grants for those with MND looking forward to 2021 when things will hopefully huge thank-you to all our wonderful fundraisers. makes sure that we meet our funding and has been doubly important in this time of Covid-19, return to some kind of normality and, with the charitable obligations. I’d also like to thank Kenny shielding and lockdowns. The Foundation is on a solid financial footing with unflinching drive of the Foundation’s trustees Logan and his team for developing our commercial funds available to meet all its ongoing commitments To do that, we rely on our army of supporters. And I’m encouraging the research community forward, relationships and to our supporters, Thrifty, and we are excited that the funds that we have delighted to confirm that not even a global pandemic we will see those trials take off at last. Aberdeen Standard Investments, Gen!us, Gaucho invested will see progress made in meeting our can stop their amazing fundraising work. Static bike and The Digital Age as well as our merchandise We have the Hope, let’s get to the Cure.” new strategic goal for a world free of MND. rides from Land’s End to John o’ Groats; ascending partners who do such a brilliant job. Ben Nevis via the house stairs, quizzes on Zoom – As well as investing in research we have given With one eye on the future the board met in you guys have got it covered! Thank you so much. additional grants to MND Scotland and the MND September at the Renaissance Club in East Association to help support people and their For me, the Spring lockdown was a bit of a novelty Lothian to thrash out a new strategy for the families living with MND. We have also made a at first: I enjoyed having more quiet time at home Foundation. It was a fantastic couple of days number of individual gifts to help support those in the family bubble. My 50th birthday in July was Doddie Weir, OBE and we will refine this over the next few months requiring additional needs and as always Doddie smaller-scale than anticipated, but such a special coupled with a new brand identity. It will take a has been there to offer encouragement and time to spend with the family – particularly as I never few months for everything to be nailed down but positivity to the MND family. thought I would see it! I received so many lovely gifts to ensure that we are ‘fit for purpose’ we will be and good wishes, it was overwhelming. Doddie’s ongoing media profile including numerous looking to recruit personnel so that we can meet BBC Breakfast interviews alongside Rob Burrow the challenges ahead. and Stephen Darby ensure that the Foundation is at the forefront whenever MND is mentioned. Doddie is an inspiration to all of us and a fantastic ambassador for all things MND. Scott Hastings Chairman 02 03 Raising funds It’s been another busy year for all our fundraisers We were still able to squeeze in the annual Auld Our relationship and support from all our and organisations who have set new challenges Enemy Dinner on the eve of the Calcutta Cup and partners over the last year has been incredible. and goals to fundraise for the Foundation. We Rob Wainwright continued his heroic efforts for We have continued to build this with our friends have continued to increase the sums raised the Foundation with his ‘Wounded Lions 500’ at Scottish Rugby and also with Thrifty, who through generous donations and through our cycling fundraiser. Rob and a group of fellow renewed its partnership with the Foundation JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving pages. cycling dafties journeyed from Twickenham to to support our ongoing fundraising efforts. We Murrayfield in 48hrs with the match ball for the Our fundraisers have gone the extra mile to raise launched our new podcast series, “The Dodcast”, Calcutta Cup to support his Lions teammates, money for the Foundation and we would love to which is supported by Aberdeen Standard Doddie and Tom Smith. say thank you to all the individuals, businesses, Investments, our friends at RugbyPass and rugby clubs, schools and families who have Many of our annual events, such as “The Doddie produced by fellow Scotland and lock forward donated to the cause. Weir Cup”, the annual golf days and Doddie’5 Jim Hamilton and Tim Groves. Ride were disrupted due to Covid-19 restrictions. Major events included the Rugby Captain’s The last year has also been full of awards with However, our amazing fundraiser and supporter, Dinner, which saw us partner with the Matt Doddie being honoured with the Helen Rollason Peter Winterbottom, showed his resilience and Hampson Foundation for a dinner at Battersea Award at Sports Personality of the Year and was made Doddie’5 Ride happen virtually instead. Evolution. The New Year started with a Burns inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame. Night Supper hosted by Microsoft, Doddie’s Two amazing supporters have put in herculean The Foundation itself also picked up The People’s Clockwise from top left: Thrifty, our Official Partner. The Burns Night Supper hosted by Microsoft. The Foundation won The People’s Choice Award at the Scottish Charity Awards. painting by Gerard M Burns was unveiled for a efforts with their fundraising. John Davidson Choice Award at the Scottish Charity Awards. limited time at The National Galleries of Scotland, rowed solo across the Atlantic in his boat, the first Doddie Dog Walk was established to “The Mad Giraffe”, in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic coincide with MND Awareness Day and of Challenge. Davy Zyw hit £116,000 raised for the course Doddie turned the big 5-0 in July! Foundation and received the Points of Light Thank you to our Award by the Prime Minister’s office. To celebrate Doddie’s big day we ran a virtual commercial partners birthday fundraiser across our social media. This Our commercial partnerships have continued was a great way for our supporters to say cheers to support the Foundation over the last year. to the big man for everything he has done with We have been working with businesses and the Foundation. Thanks to all our amazing licenced partners on various activations and supporters this event raised over £100,000. sales of merchandise to raise funds and awareness of the Foundation. Official Partner: Official Supporter: Fundraising Partners: Official Charity Partner of: We’re proud to have worked with: Since inception, we have raised a total of £8,094,704 Suppliers: with thanks to all our supporters 04 05 We’d like to say a huge to all of our amazing fundraisers! 06 07 Supporting medical research The Foundation’s quest to find meaningful The Foundation’s Medical Strategy Lead, Sean treatments for MND as quickly and efficiently McGrath, manages these relationships, as well as possible has been at the heart of all its MND as those with others in the scientific community, research activities.