Member Article

North East company’s underwear range supports rugby legend’s MND charity

A collaboration between North East underwear brand OddBalls and rugby legend Doddy Weir’s motor neurone disease (MND) charity, is raising valuable funds to help improve the lives of those affected by the disease. OddBalls has produced a range of limited-edition pants and bras that feature a ‘Doddie Weir’ tartan-style design, and sales of the products are also contributing to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which supports individuals living with MND, and their families.

Doddie Weir is one of rugby’s most recognisable personalities and became hugely popular in the North East during his seven years at Newcastle Falcons, where he was part of the Premiership winning team in the 1997-98 season. Doddie was diagnosed with MND in 2017 and in the same year set up the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The North Shields based OddBalls range features a special tartan-style pattern in colours that call out some of Doddie Weir’s most significant sporting associations and achievements, and particularly his Scottish heritage.

For every unit sold in the Doddie Weir range, £2 goes towards the work of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation which supports work to ensure that the holistic needs of patients and their families are understood and met. To date, OddBalls has donated over £44,500 to the foundation.

Founded in 2014 as part of an initiative to raise awareness about testicular cancer, OddBalls has quickly grown to become one of the UK’s biggest underwear brands and has expanded its charitable objectives during that time. With its growing range of products and sporting partnerships, OddBalls has raised over £650,000 for charities and aims to have topped the £1m mark by 2023. In the process, the brand has introduced the nation to some of the most colourful underwear and socks around.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Lines .