In January 2022 I lost my Grandma – Mary Smith – to a long term illness. Due to a combination of me living in a different part of the country and the COVID-19 pandemic prohibiting people from visiting elderly relatives in care homes, I hadn’t had chance to visit her in over 2 and half years.

After she had passed, I wanted to do something to commemorate her and how much she meant to me, both as a grandparent but also for all the love and support she had given me throughout my life.

Haemophilia – the blood clotting disease – was a condition which had affected by my Grandma’s life and my own. Her first born son, my Uncle David, has been diagnosed with the condition from birth. My Grandma therefore had to spend large periods of time travelling to and from hospital to ensure David could receive the treatment he needed, all the while having to manage a small family, following the arrival of my mum Marie a few years later.

Its always fascinated me how little is known about the disease. My parents told me a story that when I was born prematurely, they had me tested to see whether I was also potentially a carrier. Whilst this actually genetically possible, it shows how much more understood the condition is now only in my lifetime. But there's more to do! 

Haemophilia has therefore always played a part in my family’s history, and it’s something I would like to raise awareness of through a series of endurance events throughout 2023.

I was actually carrying out this campaign in 2022, but tore some ligaments in my left ankle in May 2022 which left me unable to train for the remainder of the year. But 2023 is here now – and I’m back!

So in truth, this is both a fundraising campaign both for my Grandma, and my Uncle, who tragically passed away in 2005. Any donation, small or large, will be much appreciated and greatly received.

I’ve left a list below of the events I will be participating in. 

Thank you all for reading my story. I’ll see you either out running, or in the pool!

Matt

Race schedule  

2022 

17^th April - Richmond Park Half Marathon - DONE 

6^th May – Team Swimathon Half Marathon - DONE 

7^th May - London Aquatic Centre Swimathon Half Marathon - DONE 

2023

2^nd April – Richmond Park Half Marathon - DONE

12^th May – Team Swimathon Half Marathon - DONE 

13^th May – London Aquatic Centre Swimathon Half Marathon - DONE 

12^th June - 'Swim the Night' 12 hour overnight swim - DONE 

August - October - WaterAid Swimathon (42k) - DONE

15^th October - Richmond Park Half Marathon - DONE 

11^th November – Marathon Swim (10k) London Aquatic Centre  - DONE

November 2023 - Marathon Swim Ultra Marathon 25K Challenge - DONE

17^th December - Richmond Park Half Marathon - DONE