Amidst the yellow and black machinery, a one-off tartan tractor has left the JCB production line. The Fastrac 4220 iCON has been specially wrapped in honour of Scottish rugby legend and motor neuron disease (MND) campaigner Doddie Weir.
Doddie, who died of MND in 2022, aged just 52, founded the charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to fund research into the disease. So far, more than £11 million has been committed to research in his name.
The tractor was the idea of Doddie’s school friend and director of crop services in the Scottish Borders, Douglas Stephen, who joined Doddie’s son Angus at the unveiling.
It will now make appearances at major agricultural events and rugby games across Scotland over the coming months to raise money for the foundation. The tour will begin at the Royal Northern Spring Show on the 28th of February, before moving on to the Fife, Northumberland, Royal Highland, Border Union, Perth Shows and many other agricultural events over the summer.
Find out about JCB’s other funding work here
Angus Weir said: “It has been fantastic to be here to unveil the new Doddie tartan tractor. Dad would have absolutely loved it and I’m sure it will turn a lot of heads, raise a lot of smiles, and help continue his fundraising legacy.”
It was an emotional day for Douglas, who added: “Our Doddie was born into a farming family, was part of the farming community and loved tractors. He was also always accustomed to wearing big, bright, garish tartan suits, so this is right up his street. What JCB has done is beyond all expectations and they have really pulled out all the stops. Doddie was a great friend who is sorely missed and this will help us to keep his memory and MND legacy alive.”
Paul Thompson, director of fundraising and communication at the foundation said: “We are incredibly excited about this collaboration with JCB and expect it to raise a great deal of awareness of both motor neuron disease and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. The Fastrac looks brilliant, and we can’t wait to see the look on people’s faces when nine tonnes of tartan tractor arrive at one of our events.
“When the tractor was unveiled, it was a real lump in the throat moment. Doddie was a farmer and loved his tractors, so we know that this collaboration would have meant a lot to him.”
JCB territory manager Sam Taylor said: “For JCB it is an honour to support the incredible work of the ‘My Names’5 Doddie Foundation’. Doddie Weir was an icon, not only in the way that he played his rugby, but also in the way he handled his MND diagnosis, setting an example of bravery, and inspiring others to take up the fight.
“The JCB Doddie iCON Edition Fastrac is a great example of teamwork – bringing together an amazing charity, a valued JCB customer, our brilliant dealer network, designers, and production team. We hope it will raise greater awareness of the condition and fund more groundbreaking research to find a cure for MND.”
Those interested in donating can do so at the JustGiving page