The former England captain is riding from Newcastle to Twickenham in June to raise funds for the MND charity My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, named after former Scotland international Doddie Weir, who passed away from the disease in 2022.
Moody announced his diagnosis in October, over 15 years after his retirement from the professional game.
He said: “No one wants to be diagnosed with MND but it does give you a strangely privileged position.
“When you are given the news, suddenly you realise life is uncertain anyway. It's a remarkable space that you enter, this MND world, with the individuals who work so hard for so long in it.
“I have a really clear vision of what I want to do with my time now, to spend it with the people I love.”
The 47-year-old lives with his wife Annie and their two children in Wiltshire, with the cycle ride planned to visit significant locations in his career.
Those include Leicester, where he spent 14 years as a player, Oakham and Bracknell, his two junior clubs, and final club Bath.
He said: “I want to use it to have the biggest impact possible. Since my diagnosis, everyone has been insanely generous and kind with their time.
“Maybe that sense of connection and camaraderie makes it easier to get through when it hurts a little bit.
“There's a weird sort of satisfaction that comes from discomfort, right? I have to be more mindful of that stuff as there are different boundaries in place for me now, but there's nothing like having the opportunity to feel a bit of discomfort together.”
Recent research has suggested professional rugby players may be up to 15 times more likely to develop MND, with rugby league legend Rob Burrow passing away in 2024.
Moody said: “The hardest thing is noticing the little things every day. The other day I noticed a slight difference in my finger strength, whether it's opening a bottle top or holding a fork.
“Those little things are a challenge mentally when they present themselves, but within a day you can move past it.
“I just focus on the things I can do rather than things that I'm less able to do.”
Among those throwing their support behind Moody are fellow Lion and Ireland winger Tommy Bowe, who represented The Lions Trust at The Lewis Moody Foundation event.
Having come up against Moody during his playing career, Bowe has not been surprised at the way the former England skipper has responded to his diagnosis.
Bowe said: “Representing The Lions Trust at The Lewis Moody Foundation event was a huge honour and it was incredible to see the rugby family come together for such a special person.
“I have admired Lewis for a long time having played against each other in our careers, he was always a formidable opponent. Relentless in his approach to the game and so courageous in how he approached his rugby career.
“It is clear that he is now facing his diagnosis with the same values that defined his playing career. The event brought together so many familiar faces from the rugby community and it was a brilliant showcase of the best of rugby and how we support our players when they need it.”
