MAN v FAT Scunthorpe member Matt Gibson has had a busy few months, serving to to boost an enormous sum for charity – and he’s not accomplished but!
Matt has been with the Scunthorpe membership for 2 and a half years and has used his new discovered health to embark on an enormous fundraising effort.
He’s already raised over £2,500 for the Huntington’s Illness Affiliation, a charity near his coronary heart and, having completed a 50k Extremely Marathon in Scotland in Could and Wales in July, he’s now aiming to finish a grand slam of GB 50k Extremely Marathons in September.
We spoke to him forward of his subsequent enormous effort to boost very important funds.
Reflecting on the place his journey started, he stated: “I noticed our MAN v FAT league marketed when it was first arrange however I delay becoming a member of as a result of I used to be in denial that I used to be over weight. However I used to be out of practice, out of breath strolling just some hundred metres to the store. I then bought sciatica twice and the second time I used to be mattress certain for 2 days, so I knew I wanted to get a grip of my life, get the load off and get shifting and match once more so I joined up a couple of yr after the league was shaped.”
And it’s confirmed to be a fantastic choice, with Matt making some nice pals as a part of the membership that’s expertly led by Dave Bell, a protracted standing MAN v FAT coach.
Matt continued: “The group is incredible, the league has grown from 4 groups to eight in my time, so we have now about 80 blokes within the league and we have now accomplished a lot in my time there.
“We clearly have the MAN v FAT 7s on a Friday however we even have an additional session on Tuesdays if lads need it and the 11s soccer has been glorious.
“We have now exterior 11s video games in opposition to different MAN v FAT groups but in addition inner 11s video games for charities that are all the time nice. We have now raised cash for my charity Huntington’s Illness Affiliation, Alzheimer’s Society, A number of Sclerosis Belief, Hope Home most cancers assist, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Tommys, Remedy DM and others, we have now raised over £17,000 as far as a membership which is incredible!
“Among the lads have run in 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, Extremely Marathons and lengthy bike rides to boost not simply cash however consciousness for charity. Fellow assistant coach Jamie Hannath runs the Tuesday footy, all of the 11s and charity stuff, he has been the spine of the fund elevating inside our league.”
As with the perfect of our MAN v FAT golf equipment, the off pitch group and spirit is simply as necessary as something that occurs within the half-hour on the pitch.
The Scunthorpe membership epitomises a few of these nice qualities and Matt defined: “The league has been nice to make pals and supply psychological well being assist for some, that typically doesn’t should be something deep only a beer or two with some mild banter in some instances or becoming a member of in with one among our psychological well being walks we have now had.
“The social facet for some has been nice, curry nights, evenings out to observe a band or the soccer, day trip on the races, pub video games and karaoke periods!”
As he prepares to embark on his subsequent Extremely Marathon in September, Matt was eager to indicate his gratitude for his fellow Scunthorpe membership mates, earlier than explaining simply why the Huntington’s Illness Affiliation trigger is so necessary to him.
“The lads have been superb in supporting my charity Huntington’s Illness Affiliation,” he stated.
“I kick began my charity fundraising final yr with an inner 11s recreation, we have now had soccer playing cards too to win cash or hampers, and they have proper behind me both financially chipping in and/or serving to unfold the phrase through social media.
“Their phrases of assist and encouragement with me taking up Extremely marathons has not gone unnoticed, it does provide you with that additional increase when individuals again you. I selected extremely marathons as a result of I needed to actually problem and push myself bodily and mentally, in doing so I get to boost consciousness and cash for a charity very near my coronary heart however I may get myself even fitter and lighter in weight.
“Huntington’s Illness sadly impacts my shut household so that is very private to me and so operating these Extremely Marathons for the charity is my means of doing one thing optimistic out of a adverse. I agreed to run 3x 50K Extremely marathons this yr and likewise cowl the gap between Lands Finish and John O’Groats within the yr.
“Over £2,500 has been raised for my charity thus far, I’d love to boost over £3,000 earlier than I finish it. I ran a 50k in Could in Scotland, in Wales in July and my final 50k is within the Peak District in England in September. My fund elevating will finish there or when I’ve accomplished the miles between Lands Finish and John O’Groats.
“All the Ultras are over tough typically very technical terrain with loads of elevation acquire so I’ve needed to situation my physique as greatest as I can for the races. I don’t assume I’ve accomplished too unhealthy for a forty five yr previous fats bloke with a biscuit knee who has by no means actually been a runner!”
And while nearly all of his successes are right down to his personal laborious work and endeavour to get again to health, Matt additionally acknowledged that MAN v FAT has performed its half in getting him shifting.
He completed by saying: “There’s not an opportunity I may have imagined doing an Extremely Marathon once I first bought began with MAN v FAT. As I say, I used to be out of breath strolling just a few hundred metres however you need to take small steps, I struggled to play a full 28 minutes of soccer within the early days, I can do this simply now, I can play 90 minutes with no points.
“So small steps, slowly altering eating regimen and shifting extra. My recommendation to anybody becoming a member of MAN v FAT is don’t try to do all of it on day one, alter elements in small methods every day and week. We have now had so many success tales in our league alone, a number of of the lads have hit their BMI with many selecting up proportion targets, we will all obtain nice issues if we wish to if we put the effort and time in with the proper mindset.”
Need to assist Matt together with his fundraising?
You’ll be able to assist Matt attain his whole with a donation to his JustGiving web page!