<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>Matthew is training hard as 14 January 2012 gets ever closer.</p> <p>This is the day that he leaves the warmth of Lagos in the Portuguese Algarve and starts his 2600 mile journey home. Along the Southern coast of Portugal before turning North and following the ocean to Spain. Across northern Spain, over the Pyrenees, and then up through France, before running through the channel tunnel and onwards to London. He will run one marathon every day until 22 April when he will join the Virgin London Marathon to complete his journey.</p> <p>Matthew has always been a keen sportsman and needed to keep fit in his earlier life as he tried to make his fortune as a professional footballer. Sadly, he just missed the boat, and after a non league career ended, the pounds went on. Here we are 20 years later, with the training feeling just as hard as it ever did !.</p> <p>Training aside, the commitment is very real, and with a constantly expanding group of followers and supporters the challenge has well and truly been set. &nbsp;This really is an immense task, and deserves the levels of support that are currently being talked about.</p> <p>Why not join Matthew, raise your own sponsorship,&nbsp;and run a marathon with him along the way. The weather will definitely be better than it is at home! Of course, if you would prefer to run in the rain, there will be 5 UK marathons and your involvement would be greatly appreciated.</p> <p>&nbsp;If this feels a bit too much why not get a team of friends, family or colleagues together and split that arduous 26 miles between you. If this is still too much, then just jump in our luxurious Mercedes support vehicle and shout words of encouragement (or otherwise!) to Matthew from the window.</p>