Hello!!

I'm Matt and I’m running the London Marathon in April 2027! This is my first ever Marathon, and having never run more than 10km, I am both excited and terrified!

Even with the nerves and training challenges to come, what's more important is the reason why I’m running the London Marathon.

In September 2007 at the age of 14 I suffered from a freak rugby accident, resulting in a fractured skull and blood clot to the brain. I ended up needing emergency brain surgery at John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, 50 miles from home.

My mum had no time to think, plan or prepare anywhere to stay. With a long road of recovery ahead of me, my Mum faced long daily journeys, petrol costs, not being able to work, and uncomfortable overnight stays in hospital chairs.

That's where Ronald McDonald House Charity came to save the day! Without question, they handed my mum the keys to a home from home, a place to stay when we needed it the most. It was walking distance from the hospital so she could be by my side through the worst time of my life.

Ronald McDonald House UK provides free accommodation to families with children having treatment in hospital. It costs £70 to accommodate a family of four for one night, and the average length of stay at a Ronald McDonald house in 2025 was 16 nights. They help over 8,000 families a year, and donations for my marathon efforts I hope will go on to help thousands more.

By donating and sponsoring me to run the London Marathon, you could make a real impact on the families with children in hospital, just like they impacted mine. I know firsthand how much this charity has helped me and my family.

I would be so grateful if you could help donate to this incredible charity and help families like mine with children in hospital. Nothing could help me through the long road of training and preparation ahead more!

If you have any running experience or advice to throw in alongside your most welcome donation, please let me know if you see me around, it will be much appreciated and needed! If you don't, support in the form of jelly babies would go down well too.

Thank you and see you all at the finish!