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Royal Navy Engineer runs 16 marathons in 13 days
18 October 2024
Able Rate (AB) Will Matthews set himself the challenge of running 16 marathons in 13 days, covering the distance from Scotland to Portsmouth, to raise money for his mother’s cancer treatment.
AB Matthews, a Survival Equipment Technician based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, set off from Gretna Green, on the Scottish border, on Saturday 5th October, and ran a grand total of 414 miles across the length of the UK to finally cross the finish line at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth on Thursday 17th October. Each day, Will ran an average of 31.8 miles, a distance equivalent to just over a marathon, carrying all the kit he required in a rucksack and sleeping out in a bivvy bag most nights.
Will, who enjoys fitness and sports but had never run a marathon before, navigated country lanes, busy roads, and relentless hills for 13 days accompanied only by October weather before reaching Portsmouth, his final destination.
In the long lone moments of sore feet and heavy legs, there was only one person Will was thinking of: his mum.
With my mum battling 4 stage cancer, we needed to raise quite a bit of money for the chemotherapy treatment and, having seen previous fundraisers and charity events such as the ‘Hardest Geezer’ running the length of Africa, I thought I’d try and do something of a similar scale.”
Will’s mum, Lorna Matthews, has been courageously battling stage 4 oesophageal cancer for the past two years. Despite enduring countless rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the cancer remains unyielding. Their next hope lies in a promising new treatment. However, this comes at a significant cost amounting to a little under £18,000 – just to determine if it will even be effective for her.
In the attempt to cover the cost of his mum’s cancer treatment, Will decided to raise money by pushing himself to the limits and running 16 marathons in 13 days, a truly astonishing challenge that tested both his physical fitness and mental resilience.
Will crossed the finish line in Portsmouth Naval Base this afternoon where he was finally reunited with his mum, dad, and brother, as well as receiving a warm welcome from Royal Navy personnel who came to cheer him on.
Upon completing his 13-day run, AB Matthews said: “I chose to do this challenge because I wanted to get the word out there about the fundraising.
“With my mum battling 4 stage cancer, we needed to raise quite a bit of money for the chemotherapy treatment and, having seen previous fundraisers and charity events such as the ‘Hardest Geezer’ running the length of Africa, I thought I’d try and do something of a similar scale.”
He continued: “Coming into Portsmouth Naval Base today and seeing my mum, dad and brother was really overwhelming. I have been thinking about this moment and coming to the finish line for the past two weeks.
“It was good to have a lot of people from the Royal Navy as well here today to show their support.”
To make a donation to support Will’s cause, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-55year-old-mum-and-nanny-battle-stage-4-cancer