Dollar Academy is excited to be hosting an overnight stop as part of Doddie’s Grand Tour 2025 on Thursday, 6 February. This incredible four-day 700-mile cycle challenge across Scotland, stopping at various Rugby clubs and schools along the way, is raising vital awareness and funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – a charity which invests in research to find meaningful treatments for motor neuron disease (MND). The event is being led by former Scotland Rugby captain, Rob Wainwright – read more about the ride here. Our involvement in and support of this event has been made particularly poignant by the recent tragic loss of Scott Stewart, a former pupil of Dollar who died of MND aged 42, in December 2024.
The riders and their support teams will be staying in the Maguire Gym and enjoying food provided by Thomas Franks in the Dining Hall. They’ll be arriving on Thursday evening and setting off bright and early on or before 7:30am on Friday morning.
As well as hosting an overnight stop, Dollar is also proudly represented in two of the cycling teams taking part in the challenge. Dollar Accies are fielding a team led by Steve Wands (FP 1993), and our Fundraising Manager Rebecca McFarlane will be driving the support vehicle for another local team led by Sean McFarlane (FP 1991).
On top of that, the Dollar Accies team, including former Scottish Rugby Captain Rory Lawson, are hosting a static bike fundraising challenge on Bridge Street in Dollar on the morning of Saturday, 11 January from 10am to 12.30pm – all are welcome to come along to support it, and Rebecca and her team are organising a fundraising evening with rugby legends past and present, hosted by Dougie Vipond, on Friday, 17 January more details here.
We want to give the riders a warm Dollar welcome on 6 February and ensure their stop here is unforgettable. If you’d like to help by volunteering, whether it’s welcoming the riders or assisting with logistics, we’d love to have you on board! Please contact our Fundraising Manager Rebecca McFarlane on mcfarlane-re@dollaracademy.org.uk
A final word on Doddie Aid. The Grand Tour is part of the annual Doddie Aid appeal – a virtual mass-participation exercise event which raises funds for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Founded by Rob Wainwright, Doddie Aid starts on 1 January, runs for 5 weeks, and all participants receive a free snood for taking part. Any exercise counts, and it’s not too late to get involved – so if you are keen to take part you can find out more here.
