On 22nd March, Matt and Nigel will be running the Surrey Half Marathon to raise money for Red Nose Day.

For both of us, sport has been a constant throughout our lives. It's shaped who we are, taught us resilience, and connected us with communities of people who lift each other up. That's why Comic Relief's Sport for Change approach means so much to us. The belief that sport can be a powerful tool for social change reflects our own experience — that stepping onto a track, into a gym, or into a team can change how you see yourself and your future.

Comic Relief's Sport for Change programme invests in sport not just for fitness, but as a way to tackle deeper social issues. Through over £80 million invested since 2002, the charity has supported more than 500 projects using activities like football, boxing, skateboarding and martial arts to help people develop life skills, build confidence, improve mental health, and overcome social barriers.

To us, sport isn't just exercise — it creates accessible, safe spaces where people from different backgrounds can connect, learn decision-making, develop teamwork, reduce stress, and build self-esteem. It reaches groups that traditional services often struggle to engage, making it a uniquely powerful catalyst for positive change.

We're proud to run for a charity that uses sport to:

Improve mental health through combined sport -based support programmes 

Tackle social exclusion and build stronger communities

Help people build confidence, life-skills and resilience through sport-based programmes

Running a half marathon is tough — but nowhere near as tough as the challenges many people face daily. If sport can open doors for others the way it has for us, then every mile is worth it.

Your support, no matter the amount, helps turn our 13.1 miles into something much bigger - more opportunities, more confidence, more connection, and more change for people across the UK and beyond.

Thank you for supporting us, cheering us on, and helping Comic Relief continue its incredible work.