Leicester Tigers pledge to do all they can to help Lewis Moody after heartbreaking MND diagnosis

Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling has promised Lewis Moody that his former club will do anything to support him following his diagnosis with motor neurone disease.

Moody, 48, welled up when he revealed how he had told his two sons about the devastating news. The flanker was one of England's 2003 World Cup-winners and went on to captain his country.

The rugby world has rallied around him, with a fundraising page that was set up on Monday already raising over £118,000. Moody yesterday posted a video message thanking everyone for their support, in which he revealed his arm was aching whilst holding his phone.

'It's horrible news, of course it is,' said Parling, who played alongside Moody. 'He's a great man, not just in rugby terms but as a person. I messaged him on Sunday, we had a text conversation and I said anything that I can do or the club can do, we will be there for him. In times like this, you can just offer your support. The rugby community will get behind him.'

Moody is planning to speak with former rugby player Ed Slater, who is also suffering from MND. He is also reaching out to the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which continues to raise funds and awareness in memory of former Scotland international Doddie Weir. England coach Kevin Sinfield is also a prominent voice in the MND world, having raised millions of pounds for his former rugby league team-mate Rob Burrow.

'Just a thanks for all the support you've shown to me and my family over the last 48 hours,' said Moody. 'We really feel the love and energy that's out there for us.

'The boys have gone back to school now. My eldest is into football. So they'll be distracted and happy. It's been a strange few days but with all your help and all your support, I know we'll get through it.

'In the coming days and weeks, when we're clear on where we want to apply our charitable energies and efforts then I'll be sure to reach out. Hopefully there will be some sort of challenge I can get stuck into.'

Nicola Roseman, CEO of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, told Daily Mail Sport that the government must take more action to raise funds and awareness.

'We commend Lewis's bravery and using his platform to go public as quickly he did,' said Rosrman.

'We know that MND research has been underfunded across the board by government. The more funding we can provide equates to more research and more progress. That's quite simple.

'We would look to end one that could actually help and support. Anyone who could raise money, would be brilliant to see. It's a broader societal problem. Absolutely I think governments should do more.'