Fight to find a cure for MND is backed by Jones Bros14th Feb 2025

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has thrown its support behind the fight against motor neurone disease (MND) by sponsoring Doddie’s Grand Tour.

Led by former Scotland rugby union captain Rob Wainwright OBE, the 700-mile challenge saw a 300-strong team cycle from Dublin to Edinburgh as part of Doddie Aid 2025 to raise key funds for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

The charity was launched in 2017 after Doddie Weir OBE was diagnosed with MND, the ex-Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock passing away five years later.

Set up in 2021, Doddie Aid has contributed more than £5m to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, a figure helped by several challenges – the latest of which saw Rob and team embark on their cycling trial ahead of Scotland versus Ireland in the Six Nations, where they delivered the match ball.

Starting off in Dublin, a core group headed north to Belfast, before picking the challenge back up once they’d crossed the Irish Sea and arrived in Stranraer.

The route wasn’t as simple as going from A to B once in Scotland, the team venturing through the likes of Kelso, Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and Dundee, before arriving in the capital.

A 16-strong crew from Wales, including Denbigh doctors Tomos Watkin and Matt Davies and team captain Rob Boyns, took part in the challenge, starting in Warrington and clocking up around 1,000 miles in total.

To boost their quest, Jones Bros donated a four-figure sum, with riders, including members of Ruthin Cycling Club, stopping at the company’s Ty Glyn head office as they made their way to Dublin to meet the core group via North Wales.

Once Doddie’s Grand Tour was underway, there was an opportunity for the civil engineering company’s Scottish employees to meet some of the group close to North Kyle Wind Farm, on which the Welsh firm are principal contractors.

Jones Bros marketing manager Lynne Williams said: “It’s fantastic to play even a small part in the fight against MND and support the cause doing all it can to fund further research into this cruel disease.

“The annual challenges are one way of raising crucial finances to help this, and we were only too happy to be part of the efforts as soon as Tomos Watkin and Rob Boyns from Ruthin Cycling Club reached out.

“We had the easy part, it was then up to Rob Wainwright and the team to do all the hard work, which culminated in the Six Nations battle between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield.

“We hope that the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation continues to shine a light on MND and keeps campaigning to find an all-important cure.”

Wales team captain Rob Boyns hailed a “pretty special” tour through the country, which included the four pillars of endurance, engagement, education, and enjoyment.

Visiting Ysgol Cerrigydrudion and Nant Conwy and Bethesda rugby clubs, the team informed children on MND, whilst Iwan Tukalo, Roger Baird, and Gwenllian Pyrs spoke about pulling on their respective international jerseys.

Rob said: “Wales was a massive success with choirs and local communities out in force to greet us before we met MND warriors and their families and engaged with more than 500 youngsters.

“It’s hugely motivating to know the villages and towns we visit become part of our group and will us on to try and crack the MND code.

“We also truly appreciate the support of businesses as they help make these events possible.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company continues to run apprenticeships with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.