Beton Bauen were joined by 1997 British & Irish Lion, Rob Wainwright on the eve of the Doddie Cup 555 ride from The Principality Stadium to Murrayfield.
Article written by Dan Brennan, 15th February 2023
Helping to fundraise in support of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, Beton Bauen took a premium table, hosted by former Scotland captain and 1997 British & Irish Lion, Rob Wainwright. The '97 Lions (including Martin Johnson, Paul Wallace, Jeremy Davison, Nigel Redman and Fran Cotton) took part in a Q&A session at the dinner, which was held at the Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff, and hosted by Sean Holley.
Alcohol consumption was kept to a minimum as early the next morning a large group set out on a fundraising bike ride, cycling 555 miles in 48 hours, from Cardiff to Edinburgh. All this in support of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, and in memory of the late rugby legend Doddie Weir.
Top Left (Left to Right): Martin Johnson, Rob Wainwright, Paul Wallace, Jeremy Davison, Nigel Redman, Fran Cotton, Sean Holley. Right: Steve Davies (Beton Bauen) & Rob Wainwright Bottom Left: Sean Holley & Steve Davies Bottom Centre: Rob Wainwright & The Beton Bauen Team
Photographs (apart from bottom centre) by Paul Fears
The group, led by former Scotland captain Rob Wainwright also includes World Cup winner (and former England skipper) Martin Johnson, set out from Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Thursday morning to compete in the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation that Weir started in 2017.
"The 200-strong peloton of cyclists, which includes Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, will arrive at Edinburgh’s BT Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday for the Scotland v Wales game known as the Doddie Weir Cup, where the Princess Royal awaits the game to receive ball. This is the fourth year the ride has taken place, but it is the first since Weir died last November at the age of 52 after a six-year battle with MND. Attendees also include international rugby players and endurance cyclists, such as world record-breaker Mark Beaumont, former England backer Dean Ryan and former Scotland international Carl Hogg – one of Weir’s closest friends. There is also a team made up of Weir’s teammates from the victorious 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa including Paul Wallace, Jeremy Davidson and Tim Stimpson. The drive comes during the final week of Doddie Aid 2023, a national fundraiser that brought together more than 38,000 fundraisers to try to raise as much money as possible for MND research. The teams aim to raise over £500,000 this year." 1
Beton Bauen Managing Director Steve Davies contributed greatly, not only donating an auction item in the form of a signed Manny Pacquiao boxing glove but also outbidding an enthusiastic audience for a signed Martin Johnson framed print, plus a whopping £1,500 to the cause, for a New Zealand jersey signed by the entire All Blacks squad.
A huge salute to Rob Wainwright and all those who took part in a successful journey. Sadly, for the Welsh Rugby team, the match ball that travelled from Cardiff did not bring good luck... congratulations to Scotland.
There are various ways to make a donation to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. For more information on how to donate, click here.
1 The Evening Standard, 10th February 2023