At Cancer Relief, we are very fortunate to have members of our community who take on individual events and challenges and choose to seek sponsorship to raise money for our charity.
Matthew Isola approached us last October as he was training for his first ever half-marathon. Cancer Relief is a cause very close to Matthew’s heart as unfortunately, like so many, cancer has touched the lives of his family and close friends, and he wanted to help make a difference.
Matthew had chosen to run the Seville Half-Marathon on 27th January. He visited us at the Cancer Relief Centre, and he told us his story as well as sharing his gruelling winter training schedule and his plans to design his own t-shirt using the Cancer Relief logo.
We aim to provide as much support as possible for any individuals that choose to fundraise for us, whether that be in the form of setting up a fundraising page on one of the major giving platforms, sharing any social media posts or links across our channels to increase exposure or putting them in touch with other local groups or contacts that could provide additional support.
Once Christmas and New Year were out of the way, the day of the half-marathon came around quickly. Matthew said he had some pre-run nerves but was able to channel this into positivity as the adrenaline took over. The weather on the day was abysmal. It was a very cold morning with heavy rain leaving a lot of surface water along the course. Matthew didn’t let this dampen his spirits and despite the conditions, not only did he complete the 21km (13 mile) run but he shaved a whopping 8 minutes off his best time!
It’s never easy stepping outside your comfort zone and committing to something that involves so much time, dedication and mental and physical training. Even if it’s something you enjoy, it’s still tough at times to keep going. Matthew’s motivation was clear. He told us: “It was so good to see the money coming in from all the people who sponsored me, but it was even better to see the money going out again knowing that it was going to help such a good cause.”
This is a powerful statement that perfectly captures the driving force behind why many people choose to do their own individual sponsored events for charities and causes they care deeply about.
Matthew raised an incredible £4,500 for his efforts. This is a fantastic amount that will go a long way to supporting our vital support services that bring comfort to anyone affected by cancer in our community.
Not only did Matthew achieve something for himself but he also made a huge impact for our charity, and we are so grateful to him for choosing to do this for us.
Matthew really has the bug for running now and is looking forward to running his first full marathon in October this year. All the very best Matthew!
