Lewis Moody Describes Living With MND After Last October Diagnosis

Lewis Moody says he feels he is picking up the fundraising baton from people such as Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease last October. The former England forward said living with MND has sharpened his focus on the present, even as he continues to train and think about family life.

“The present is all that you have,” Moody said, adding: “It is a gift and a privilege.” He was 48 on Friday, and the diagnosis has already changed the way he measures day-to-day life.

Moody’s MND diagnosis

Moody, who won 71 caps for England and helped them win the 2003 World Cup, spoke publicly about the diagnosis as he reflected on what has come after it. He also said, “I’m not sure if privilege is the right word but MND helps you really understand what you love and what makes you happy.”

That outlook has become part of how he talks about the disease. Another line he used — “Yesterday is dead and tomorrow isn’t born; there is only now.” — puts the emphasis on what he can control today, not on the stretch of time ahead.

England, Leicester and Bath

Moody’s place in rugby gives weight to the way he is approaching the diagnosis. He played for Leicester and Bath, built a career on 71 England appearances and became a World Cup winner in 2003. Now, he is linking that profile to the same MND fundraising fight carried by Weir and Burrow.

He said his finger strength is slightly diminished, but he still goes to the gym. That detail shows a life that has changed without stopping, with routine exercise still part of his week even after the diagnosis.

Cyprus family break

Recently, Moody returned from a family break in Cyprus, where he watched his eldest son, Dylan, play in goal for England Under-18s. He also talked about the practical questions that came after the diagnosis, saying: “What’s next?”

For Moody, the answer so far has been to keep moving: training, staying close to family and using his position to add to the MND campaign already associated with Weir and Burrow. That leaves his public role clear enough — he is not stepping away from the fight, but joining it from inside it.