Every once in a while you come across remarkable people in your life. Matt was one. A keen cyclist, we had often whiled away time discussing plans for challenges. In the autumn of 2016 he told me that he was planning to ride from Surrey to Greece in a month. For many this would have just been foolish words but coming from Matt I knew he was being serious.

I mentioned I was keen to undertake a challenge too and he offered his support, pointing me in the direction of books authored by cyclists who had ridden around the world. The challenge I selected was not quite as extreme: Yateley to Paris. Similar in distance to the popular London to Paris,

I elected to ride it in less than 24 hours to add a little more dare to it.

Sadly Matt lost his battle with cancer on Thursday 6th July 2017. In correspondence earlier in the year he wrote, “I will sort this and I will get cured, I am absolutely determined.” He signed his email, “Super-Matt”.

The Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice were instrumental in making Matt as comfortable as possible. The Hospice relies on donations to maintain the incredible levels of support they offer patients and their families. We
will ride Yateley to Paris in under 24 hours. For Matt.