Mike Tindall jumps in freezing lake as he kicks off 6 months of fundraising in Doddie Weir’s memory

Mike Tindall has kicked off six weeks of fundraising in memory of Doddie Weir by stripping down and jumping into a freezing cold lake.

The previous England player, 44, revealed previous week that he signed up for the initiative, which commenced on New Year’s Working day, regarded as Doddie Aid.

The charity imitative is run by the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which was set up by the Scottish rugby legend prior to he handed away previous November.

The foundation aims to raise dollars to fund study into motor neurone condition (MND), which the late athletics star was diagnosed with in 2016.

Mike points out that he is about to consider portion in the ‘Doddie Dunk’, the 1st problem which is section of a six-week-extensive fundraiser for his late friend’s charity

Talking as he obtained ready to jump into the Gloucestershire lake for the initial working day of his challenge, Mike, who is married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara, reported: ‘Happy New Calendar year absolutely everyone, the initially of January. 

‘It’s not that chilly, it truly is a little little bit chilly, we are down below at the lake and it really is time for the Doddie dunk!’

Throwing off his water-proof robe, Mike addresses his chest as he prepares to get in, joking ‘Sorry, it really is very nipple-y out in this article!’

He then wades into the lake and dives in, in advance of two of his unnamed mates, also in budgie smugglers join him.

Mike’s Instagram movie ends with him and two of his buddies posing for the camera in their cheeky swimmers.

Obviously overcome by the clean temperature of the lake, the a few males shriek as they paddle all-around

Taking the plunge: Mike and two of his mates went wild swimming on New Year’s Working day to support increase recognition for MND

Clearly overcome by the contemporary temperature of the lake, the a few guys shriek as they paddle around.

The video ends with them posing for the digicam in their cheeky swimmers.

The friends ended up accompanied at the lane by an excitable boxer dog who barked from the waters edge as they obtained submerged.

Mike captioned the publish: ‘Great way to begin the 12 months with a minor dunk #doddieaid2023 right before heading to Cheltenham, it was a small chilly in there!!!’

 Former Scotland participant Doddie Weir passed away in November 2022 following a 6-yr battle with motor neurone disorder

Mike appeared to have his hands complete as Lena jumped around her father at Cheltenham next his icy dip earlier that working day

Just after braving the chilly drinking water on New Year’s Working day, Mike attended Cheltenham with his wife Zara and their two daughters, Mia, aged 8, and Lena aged four. 

He concluded the publish yesterday hinting that he would have undertake a extended operate as component of the ‘mileage challenge’. He wrote: ‘Now it is really time to get the miles in!’ 

The icy dip recognized as the ‘Doddie Dunk’, which observed persons go wild swimming on the first working day of the new 12 months, was just the to start with in a string of challenges Mike and others are established to full as portion of the charity fundraiser. 

Asserting he would be getting section in the 2023 challenge in an earlier Instagram video, Mike explained: ‘Doddie Support is back again…I’ve just signed up and re-downloaded the Doddie Help application. 

Mike Tindall (second from left) was friends with Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir (suitable) who died in November

Mike Tindall (pictured) glimpse to Instagram to call on his followers to consider aspect in the six-7 days Doddie Help obstacle previously this 7 days

Previous Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir died in November aged 52 adhering to his 6 year struggle with MND

‘It’s in essence a 6 7 days challenge. Get as significantly mileage in you can, indication up as a family members, encourage the families to get out there and do their miles, all raising funds for the excellent male who naturally regrettably passed absent a pair of months back. 

‘It’s a large yr for him…it really is a year to honour him as considerably as we quite possibly can.’

He included that he has signed up for Staff Barbarians, and urged some others to do the exact same.

Mike explained: ‘Hope you can all be part of in increase massive total of dollars for these kinds of a good induce.

‘Let’s do it jointly. Let’s do it good. It really is excellent. Exercise is excellent for the mind as nicely as the entire body. Enjoy that and start off off in the ideal way.’

Doddie Weir’s death in November, although Mike Tindall was in the Australian jungle filming reality show I am a Celeb, Get Me Out of Listed here, prompted an outpouring of tributes from a selection of persons.

Rob Burrow, the former England rugby league star who also suffers with MND, as well to Twitter to hail Weir as his ‘MND’ hero before taking aim at the Uk Governing administration for not subsequent up on a pledge to make investments £50m into funding for research.  

‘So unhappy to hear the news of the passing of my mnd hero Doddie Weir,’ he wrote. ‘I’m sorry to say, how quite a few far more warriors die just before this stupid federal government give the 50m they stated they would give. I’m definitely gutted to see my friendly giraffe die. You are the purpose for staying so positive RIP’

Burrow’s father, Geoff, also expressed his disappointment at the information on Twitter. 

‘SO Unfortunate to listen to about Rugby Legend Doddle Weir,’ he wrote, ‘a correct champion and these kinds of a attractive sort human becoming RIP Doddle’. 

And Nicola Sturgeon, the 1st Minister of Scotland, tweeted: ‘This is so terribly unfortunate. Doddie was 1 of our nation’s sporting legends, but the brave way he responded to MND surpassed everything at any time obtained on the rugby pitch.’

Sturgeon ongoing: ‘He refused to enable it dim his spirit and did so a great deal to help many others. My condolences to his cherished kinds. #RIPDoddie.’

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