Moody 'overwhelmed' by support since MND diagnosis

Former England captain Lewis Moody has thanked the public for the "wonderful" support they have shown him since his motor neurone disease diagnosis.

The 47-year-old, who was part of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad, revealed in September he had been diagnosed with the muscle-wasting condition.

More than £200,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page set up by Moody's friends and former Leicester Tigers team-mates Geordan Murphy and Leon Lloyd to support the ex-flanker and his family.

"It's been a whirlwind," Moody told BBC Breakfast.

"It's been wonderful in the sense of the outpouring of love and support, which has just been constant. It's been slightly overwhelming at times but it all comes from such a beautiful and wonderful place.

"It's been a strange time but for me and my family, we've just felt that warm embrace of everyone coming around us and supporting us.

"My background is in rugby and people talk about that community but the MND community that I'm now a part of has just really embraced us and we feel really lucky as a family to be a part of it."

Moody discovered he had MND after noticing some weakness in his shoulder while training in the gym.

After physiotherapy failed to improve the problem, a series of scans showed nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been damaged.

Moody, who has two sons, aged 17 and 15, says dealing with the mental impact of his diagnosis has been harder than the physical effects so far.

"I have small symptoms in the hand and shoulder," said Moody.

"The only real effect it has on you is in the back of your mind. It lingers.

"Trying to park that and focus on the every day. Getting the most joy that you physically can out of every day. Feeling that you have a purpose and applying yourself."

MND can progress quickly and is incurable but treatment can slow deterioration.

Elite athletes are disproportionately affected by MND, with a study of Italian footballers suggesting the rate of the disease is up to six times higher than in the general population.

It is thought that by limiting the oxygen available and causing damage to motor neurone cells, regular, strenuous exercise can trigger the disease in those already genetically susceptible.