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England World Cup winner - and former team-mate of Lewis Moody - Kyran Bracken has donated £15,000 to a fundraiser supporting the ex-flanker.
The rugby world rallied around Moody in early October after he revealed he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
Moody, a former Leicester and Bath flanker, now 47, was a member of Sir Clive Woodward's squad that tasted global glory in Australia in 2003, and also captained his country. Renowned as a fearless and tough-tackling forward, Moody won 71 England caps and was also a British & Irish Lion in 2005, featuring in all three Tests on that year's tour of New Zealand.
In support of Moody, a fundraiser has been set up by friend Geordan Murphy, which currently has a target of raising £280,000 to support the sportsman.
Nearly £250,000 has been raised, with Bracken parting ways with £15,000 to help the fundraiser towards its goal.
The fundraiser description reads: 'Our great friend, Lewis Moody, has announced that he is living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Our immediate love and support goes out to Lewis, his wife Annie and their two fantastic sons. With no cure for MND currently, this is very difficult news.
Former World Cup winner Kyran Bracken has donated £15,000 to Lewis Moody's fundraiser
Moody revealed in October that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND)
'Lewis is simply the most kind and inspirational person, as well as being known for all he achieved on a rugby pitch with Leicester, Bath, England and the British & Irish Lions. A former England captain, a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner and a passionate charitable campaigner; dedicating the last 12 years to raising over £2million through The Lewis Moody Foundation, to fight for and support those affected by Brain Tumours.'
Bracken, who retired in 2004, played alongside Moody for England, and is one of countless supporters of the former player.
Moody cracked, welled up and was overcome with emotion when he revealed how he'd told his two sons Dylan and Ethan of his devastating news.
'It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do,' Moody told the BBC. 'They are two brilliant boys and that was pretty heartbreaking.
'We sat on the couch in tears, Ethan and Dylan both wrapped up in each other, then the dog jumped over and started licking the tears off our faces which was rather sweet.'
MND is a life-shortening neurological disease which affects the nerves that control movement and leads to muscles deteriorating so they no longer work. There is no cure. Moody's revelation shocked not only his sport, but the whole ecosystem.
The news is beyond cruel. Moody is not the first rugby player to have been hit by MND. Scotland and Lions great Doddie Weir and rugby league legend Rob Burrow have both died from the disease within the past three years, though there is no proven link between the two.
Former South Africa scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen also passed away after battling MND while former Leicester and Gloucester forward Ed Slater has also received the same terminal diagnosis.
Bracken (third right) was, alongside Moody (third right), part of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad
'There's something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute,' Moody said. 'It's not that I don't understand where it's going. We understand that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now.
'Maybe that's shock or maybe I process things differently. Once I have the information, it's easier. You're given this diagnosis of MND and we're rightly quite emotional about it, but it's so strange because I feel like nothing's wrong. I don't feel ill. I don't feel unwell.
'My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder. 'I'm still capable of doing anything and everything. And hopefully that will continue for as long as is possible.'
