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Ed Slater

@ed_slater

30.5K

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1670

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𝑴𝑵𝑫 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆.
Ex Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers
Charlton Athletic fan
No particular order.
#KeepMovingForward

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

The value of purpose is probably impossible to appreciate fully until it is gone. Just over four years ago, when Ed Slater had motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosed at the age of 33, a good portion of his purpose in life was stripped away.⁠
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On the verge of what would have been his sixth season with Gloucester since joining from Leicester Tigers, the burly lock immediately retired from playing. He concedes now that his love for rugby union was temporarily misplaced.⁠
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“I think I lost it after my diagnosis,” Slater says, using his own voice thanks to message banking technology and a system that tracks his gaze before converting text to speech. “It wasn’t a conscious choice, but I don’t think I had the mental space for it, to be honest. I’d lost my career and my future almost overnight, and both were very heavily tied up with rugby.⁠
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“It was devastating. It still is devastating if I dwell on it, but I’m much more comfortable with what’s happening now. I suppose that period of grieving has subsided for me. I am a lot more focused on what’s really important to me and what can help me be the best version of myself to everyone around me.”⁠
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Four years after his diagnosis, former Leicester and Gloucester lock has rediscovered his love of rugby with eye-tracking technology that allows him to speak and analyse matches.⁠
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🔗 Tap the link in our bio to read the full story

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This week I was invited to attend the Women of the Year Awards 2026, to receive an award for the @the4edfoundation as a Campaigning Champion for MND, alongside the incredible Lindsey Burrow, Kathy Weir and Annie Moody. It was such an incredible honour to be able to receive an award in a room full of magical women, championing their own and others hard work and passions.

Lindsey made the most incredible speech, after we were awarded by MNDA ambassador Charlotte Hawkins @charlottehawkins1 who sadly lost her father to MND and knows first hand how cruel the disease can be.

To be honest, it was very overwhelming and completely out of my comfort zone being at such a prestigious event, as my day to day now is caring for Ed, making sure the kids get their snacks (essential) and ensuring my family feels safe and well loved.

It takes a huge amount of organisation to leave Ed to make sure he is cared for with experienced help in the things I’ve had to learn on the job as a carer- whether it’s peg feeding, medication, his NIV machine or hoisting.

When you’re so used to leading his care requirements, it’s anxiety inducing leaving him- as living with MND, the smallest of things that can happen in an instant can have the biggest repercussions and I want to make sure I’m there for anything- a choking episode, a fall, a communication issue.

Caring is a huge change from life pre Ed’s diagnosis, but I consider it such a privilege that I am able to care for Ed and ensure his needs are met and can protect my kids and make sure their experience of living life with MND is as comfortable and positive as possible.

I use the word privilege because living with MND can have so many factors that make it extremely difficult and volatile to be able to advocate for your loved one- with differing levels of support services based on location, financial hardship, limited support networks, and social isolation as well as many more.

What I do day to day is out of love and adoration for Ed, his strength and what he believes in - a better quality of life and support for those living with MND. That is why we created the 4Ed Foundation.

I share this award with those amazing women that h

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Congratulations, @leicestertigers 🤝

#TheSlaterCup | @the4edfoundation

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🧡 SILENT AUCTION – NOW LIVE! 🧡

We’re delighted to be supporting our friend and colleague Jon Machell and the MND Association with a fantastic Silent Auction – and there are some truly incredible prizes up for grabs!

🏉 2 tickets – Scotland v New Zealand
🏉 2 tickets – Wales v England
⛳ Four-ball at Sidmouth Golf Club + dinner at the Rockfish
🌊 Cornwall apartment for 5 people
🌲 Romantic Devon cabin for a week
🍽️ Dinner for 4 at Darts Farm
🎁 …and much, much more!

There are some brilliant experiences on offer, so please take a look, place a bid and share this post far and wide.

Every bid helps us support Joff Machell and raise vital funds for the MND Association. 🧡

👉 BID NOW: https://galabid.com/mnd-ball

View the auction & place your bids⁠

Please share – and let’s see how much we can raise! 🧡

#MND #MNDAssociation #MNDawareness

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Heck of a weekend last week coming together again for our brothers suffering, their families and the MND community.

Always an honour to be involved to see friends and to make new ones.

Rugby is special - thanks for the support in raising the awareness as MND is not incurable it’s simply under funded to find the solution. Thanks @davidwildphotography for the pics

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Sometimes you gotta channel your anger @liamgallagher - we all have some. Come n let it out on Nov 21st at the @follywinebar Petersfield. Tix in bio donate £20/pp on our JustGiving page to secure your place and write “attending” on your donation post! See ya there (all funds to @myname5doddie foundation to support families living with Motor Neurone Disease) #oasis #liamgallagher #noelgallagher

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When @ed_slater cracks the teeth joke and has Team Burrow & Team Slater in stitches @the_745game

Please look out for his brilliant comment about @benyoungs09

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What an incredible day! Thank you to all the supporters who stayed on or came just to see the 745 Game. Your support doesn’t go unnoticed. ❤️

🔗 link in bio to donate to the fight against MND

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Thank you to everyone behind the @the_745game for having me. My return to Welford Road lasted all of four minutes before my hamstring gave up, but I wouldn’t have missed the day for anything.

We laughed, we had fun, and there were moments that hit hard. Days like these show how important connection is. We care about each other, and you could feel it all day.

Sport brought us together. Underneath it all was love for our teammates and a determination to keep fighting this battle together.

What a day. ❤️

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❤️🍒

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The families of Ed Slater, Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir deliver the ball at the 745 Game ❤️

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Matchday is here.

Rugby Union vs Rugby League. Legends of the game. One incredible cause.

If you're joining us at Mattioli Woods Welford Road today, don't forget to grab your merch, pick up a programme, and get your 50/50 raffle tickets before sales close.

Can't make it? Watch live on TNT Sports and, if you can, please donate to help support people affected by MND.

🔗 link in bio to donate, for raffle tickets & more

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