The News Agents From 18 months to live to Winter Paralympic history - The Sports Agents
Mar 6, 2026
Davy Zyw, a Paralympic snowboarder who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his 30s, tells his remarkable story. He chronicles learning to snowboard, the long diagnostic journey and meeting Alfie 'Doddy' that reshaped his outlook. He explains training with a degenerative condition, classification struggles, the freedom he finds on the board, and the family sacrifices behind his Paralympic bid.
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Early Snowboarding Dream Interrupted By Injury
- Davy Zyw grew up snowboarding and aimed to go pro, training from age 16 and competing nationally and internationally.
- A knee injury in his early 20s ended that path and pushed him into a successful career in the wine trade before his later MND diagnosis.
Shock Diagnosis After A Year Of Tests
- Davy noticed paralysis in his left thumb after a snowboarding trip and was misdiagnosed initially before a year-long process identified motor neurone disease.
- He was given 18 months to live at 30 but has lived almost eight years with MND while rebuilding purpose and life choices.
Meeting Doddy Lifted Horizons And Access
- Meeting Alfred Doddy at a fundraising cycle shortly after diagnosis transformed Davy's outlook and provided practical support and contacts.
- Doddy's advocacy helped open clinical trial opportunities, inspiring Davy to become an ambassador for My Name's Doddy Foundation.