Poetry collection from former team mate of Doddie Weir
A former team mate of the Scotland rugby legend Doddie Weir has put pen to paper to raise money for the late player’s charity.
Gary Cairns from Cavers near Hawick has released a book of poetry with proceeds going to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and it’s proved to be such a success that one of his poems will feature in the official programme for this weekend's Six Nations clash with France at Murrayfield.
Former Scotland lock Weir sadly died from MND aged just 52 in 2022 and had set up the foundation in 2017 soon after receiving his diagnosis.
Gary says the idea book came about after his efforts to take part in ‘Doddie Aid’ in January were thwarted.
“I had signed up for Doddie Aid in January to run 100 miles by the end of the month,” he said. “I thought, it's a bit of discipline, let’s shed some Christmas weight, so I started off on the treadmill.
“I do a lot of running anyway, but I don't know if it was the cold, all that rugby catching up with me - I'm 56 now - but by the third day it was clear this wasn't happening. My knees just weren't taking it.
“I was so frustrated, because when I say I'm going to do something I like to see it through. So I thought what else can I do to help the charity?”
Gary instead hit upon the idea of putting together a book of poetry.
“I had a few of the poems lying around. A few had been in the Hawick News so I thought I could easily make a book here. I'll write another couple and make one about Doddie.
“It gave me a bit of focus for January and a lot of pleasure seeing it come together.
“To be honest, I was quite nervous wondering if I should do it. It’s a bit nerve-wracking putting yourself out there but Doddie was brave put his name out there to fight MND, so I thought that's good enough for me.”
The response has been, in Gary’s own words, “absolutely amazing”, with an invite to join the team on Doddie’s Triple Crown; a cycling challenge undertaken by Weir’s former team mate Rob Wainwright and cyclist Mark Beaumont.
“We raised £900 up in Edinburgh,” Gary says, “people are just so generous. Especially because it's MND, not just my poetry. I know that! But at the same time it's been a wonderful journey meeting people.
“We were in Wales at the weekend with the Triple Crown which was incredible. I've gone through a thousand copies in a few weeks. so I ordered another 300 and now I've had to order another thousand.
“I've had 50p to 50 quid in return for the book and have raised about £1000 so far, but anything is fine.
“The SRU have backed it too, I went through all the right channels.”
Which in turn led to the request from the Union to feature a poem in this weekend’s Scotland programme.
“I had a tear in my eye when I found out,” Gary admits, “I nearly fell off the treadmill!
“I wasn't a close friend of Doddie's, but we were team mates in Scotland's U19 team and I think most people know someone affected by MND, so that’s been a motivation.
“Plus, it’s personal to me. My uncle died from it so this was personal to me.
“It's such a horrible disease.”
Gary now has plans to make the book available online, but says, “I need help with that!”.
“I'm a tree planter! I don’t know about that sort of thing but I’ll be looking into it next week and it'll be online shortly.
“But, if someone wants one in the meantime, get in touch with me. I've already sent a lot to people all over the world.”
He added: “I'm overwhelmed with the response to it all really. It's been amazing meeting people who are so like-minded.
“Rugby people are the best in the world.”