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BBC Breakfast was halted today (Monday, October 6) as ex-England rugby captain Lewis Moody shared the news that he’s been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The rugby legend, 47, was part of the side that won the Rugby World Cup back in 2003.
Lewis Moody announces motor neurone disease diagnosis
Motor neurone disease (MND) causes muscle weakness that worsens over a few months or years.
The disease is usually life-shortening, and there is currently no cure. MND can affect a person’s mobility and movement, speech and communication, breathing, swallowing, eating, and drinking.
As symptoms worsen, a person with MND may need a wheelchair and a ventilator to help them breathe.
Around 5,000 people in the UK have MND at any one time.
Lewis shared the news of his diagnosis with BBC Breakfast on today’s show during an interview with Sally Nugent. Sitting alongside his wife, Annie, he said: “Recently, as close as, I suppose, two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
“And I think it’s safe to say that it came as a fairly sizable shock to all of us, but I think over the last couple of months, in particular the last couple of weeks, we’ve had this lingering in the back of our minds, this sort of news. And until we’re actually told on the day, in the appointment, I don’t think it really sunk in.”
Lewis Moody’s MND news
Lewis then continued, saying that “in myself, I feel absolutely fine”.
“You’re given this piece of information, you’re given this diagnosis of MND or ALS, and it’s a huge piece of information to absorb and deal with, and we’re all rightly quite emotional about it,” he then said.
“But it’s so strange because I feel like nothing’s wrong, you know? I don’t feel ill. I don’t feel unwell.”
Lewis then went on to explain how he first noticed something may be wrong when he started noticing “shoulder weakness” while working out.
After speaking to a physio and nothing changing after 6-8 weeks, he was referred to a shoulder specialist. Lewis had an MRI scan, which showed that the issue wasn’t his neck, “despite all the years of throwing myself into contact on the rugby pitch”.
Lewis went on to speak about how difficult it was to share the news with his mum, as well as his two sons. “That was pretty heartbreaking, wasn’t it?” he said, growing emotional.
Fans send their support
He went on to say that he didn’t want to harbour any secrets from his sons. “As soon as we could, we wanted to tell them,” he said.
Speaking about sharing the news with his sons, he said: “It was, without a shadow of a doubt, the horriblest, hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But I’m really grateful we did it. I’m glad we did it at the time.”
Fans of the rugby legend took to social media to share their heartbreak over the news.
“Dreadfully sad news [heartbreak emoji]. Lewis & Annie are so brave to be able to talk about it. It must be so heartbreaking to carry out interviews like this @sallynugent. My love, thoughts & prayers go out to them both, their families & friends. Such a terrible cruel disease,” one fan tweeted.
“This is awful news,I wish to God we could get rid of this terrible illness. Sending love and best wishes to Lewis and family,” another said.
“Awful news, my heart goes out to Lewis and his family,” a third wrote.
“So very sorry to see this, praying for a medical breakthrough, lost my Mum to MND. love to Lewis and his family,” another wrote.
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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Robert Emlyn Slater
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