From 1st to 8th March, a group of seven friends cycled over 2700 km from Edinburgh to Rome all in aid of Motor Neurone Disease Charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Riding in a continuous relay, through every hour of the day and night, the team arrived into Rome at lunchtime of the 8th of March. The cyclists enjoyed a much deserved hero’s welcome by rugby fans and supporters ahead of the Scotland Italy Six Nations clash.
The cycle began at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium, snaking its way south through London, rural France and the Apennine mountains of Italy before descending into the group’s final destination at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
The group of friends, which included wine experts, chefs and restaurant owners have been brought together by a mutual drive of raising vital funds and awareness of this degenerative, incurable disease. The team included Gallery Director Tommy’s brother Davy Zyw, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) five years ago aged 30. Despite progressive onset of the condition, Davy, a passionate cyclist, joined the team for the start and last leg of the journey from Sisteron to Rome. This is just one cycle undertaken by the Zyw brothers since Davy’s diagnosis: in 2020. They completed the North Coast 500 in just four days, and in 2022 cycled the ‘High 5’, a 275 mile route over the five highest roads in Scotland, raising over £250,000 in the process. Tommy joined the group for their departure from Edinburgh.
Riding in a continuous relay, through every hour of the day and night, the team arrived into Rome on the 8th of March, and enjoyed a hero’s welcome by rugby fans and supporters ahead of the Scotland Italy Six Nations clash.
The team included friend James Porteous, owner of Edinburgh’s Electric Spirit Co; James Snowdon, owner of The Palmerston and Lannan in Edinburgh; Seamus Sharkey, Head of Beverage at JKS restaurant group; Shaun Searley, Executive Chef at London’s Quality Chop House; Davy’s colleague at Berry Bros. & Rudd, Matt Jones, who planned the entire route; and Dubai-based Greg Shevill who flew over to complete the challenge.
The team, assisted by their fearsome support crew have raised over £56,000 for MND research.
