Bisham Abbey welcomes Kenny Logan and celebrities on 700-mile charity walking and cycling event
For former Scottish rugby star Kenny Logan, evading opposition defenders and having the lung-bursting drive to perform try-saving tackles, was all part of the game as an international-class winger.
These same traits likely helped Logan in his successful fight against prostate cancer back in 2021, while also helping him pick-up the pieces after losing friends and fellow rugby teammates – Doddie Weir and Tom Smith – who died from motor neurone disease (MND) and cancer respectively, last year.
Doddie had been suffering from MND for six years, while Logan got his cancer diagnosis last year.
“I told family and some friends about my cancer but didn’t feel I could tell Doddie – I felt too guilty. I thought why can my cancer be checked for and removed, and his MND can’t?”
“Doddie and Tom had an incredible mindset in the toughest of circumstances. When you get hit by something like cancer or MND you lose confidence and positivity, but they cracked on and didn’t let it affect them. It was my duty to do the same.”
And with that – having won his own fight – Logan channelled that mix of bitter-sweet emotions into establishing the Kenny Logan’s Rugby World Cup Challenge – an arduous, 700-mile, charity cycling and walking endurance event taking place across seven days. The objective: to raise £550,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
This means the cyclists must maintain a pace of some 100 miles per day to keep to the schedule.
Starting at Murrayfield stadium, Edinburgh and finishing up at the Stade De France in Paris, Logan and his team hope to reach the Parisian stadium in time to deliver the match ball for the epic World Cup clash between Scotland and Ireland.
The team of cycling and walking celebrities are due to arrive at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre the evening of Wednesday, 4 October for their fourth day stop-off. Allowing the gallant participants to take advantage of the centre’s world-class facilities and accommodation, spending the night to rejuvenate body and mind, before the next gruelling stage.
Kenny is joined by celebrities including adventurer Jason Fox, actors Jamie Bamber and Jimmy Nesbitt, and former Scottish footballer and current pundit, Ally McCoist. Kenny’s wife, Gabby Logan, is also expected to take part, along with TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher.
After a good night’s sleep at Bisham Abbey, they’ll all set off for the next stage of the demanding 700-mile trek, edging closer towards their final destination – the Stade de France.