The eldest son of Edinburgh rugby legend Doddie Weir has said he ‘didn’t know how big a name his dad was’. Hamish, 24, said he only grasped his father’s impact after Doddie’s devastating diagnosis.
This comes as Hamish is announced as Scotland captain for Doddie Aid 2024, continuing his father’s work in support of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The rugby star passed away on November 26, 2022, after living with MND for over six years.
Doddie Aid encourages people from across the world to log miles in any form of exercise to raise funds for MND research. Hamish added: “This feels like my time to step up, not just as Doddie’s son, but as someone who wants to carry on what he started.
“The Foundation is deeply personal to me, my mum, my brothers – it sits deep within us. Keeping that connection alive really matters. If we can help in any small way, we have to do it.”
Hamish was only 16-years-old with Doddie was diagnosed with MND. He continued: “I don’t think I truly understood how big a figure Dad was until his diagnosis went public.
“I was 16, on the way to New Zealand, and as soon as I got a signal as we got off the flight my phone just blew up. It was overwhelming and a bit scary at that age – that’s when I realised how many people he’d touched. The impact was way beyond rugby.”
Doddie’s impact became clear to Hamish after his dad walked out at Murrayfield before Scotland faced New Zealand in 2017 – a moment recently crowned as the greatest in Murrayfield’s 100-year history.
He added: “It’s humbling to think how big an impact that moment has had on so many people. When the applause hit us, it felt like being struck in the face.
Join Edinburgh Live’s Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
“Even now, it still gives me goosebumps. It was the first time I’d ever seen my dad emotional. MND has robbed us of a lifetime of memories, but that moment is one my brothers – Ben and Angus – and I will always hold on to.”
Paul Thompson, Director of Fundraising at MyName’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Hamish stepping forward as Scotland captain is a powerful moment.
“It shows that Doddie’s legacy continues in the next generation, and we’re all working together to achieve his ultimate aim of a world free of MND. This year, inclusion is at the heart of Doddie Aid – whether someone walks a mile with their dog or cycles across the country, every contribution matters.”