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 Might 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 big effort to boost important funds.
Reflecting on the place his journey started, he mentioned: “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 form, out of breath strolling only a few hundred metres to the store. I then received sciatica twice and the second time I used to be mattress sure for 2 days, so I knew I wanted to get a grip of my life, get the burden 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 an amazing choice, with Matt making some nice mates as a part of the membership that’s expertly led by Dave Bell, an extended standing MAN v FAT coach.
Matt continued: “The group is unbelievable, the league has grown from 4 groups to eight in my time, so we’ve got about 80 blokes within the league and we’ve got 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.
“Now we have exterior 11s video games towards different MAN v FAT groups but in addition inner 11s video games for charities that are all the time nice. Now we have raised cash for my charity Huntington’s Illness Affiliation, Alzheimer’s Society, A number of Sclerosis Belief, Hope Home most cancers help, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Tommys, Treatment DM and others, we’ve got raised over £17,000 as far as a membership which is unbelievable!
“A number of 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 most effective of our MAN v FAT golf equipment, the off pitch group and spirit is simply as essential 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 mates and supply psychological well being help 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 certainly one of our psychological well being walks we’ve got 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 classes!”
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 essential to him.
“The lads have been superb in supporting my charity Huntington’s Illness Affiliation,” he mentioned.
“I kick began my charity fundraising final yr with an inner 11s recreation, we’ve got 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 help and encouragement with me taking over Extremely marathons has not gone unnoticed, it does provide you with that further increase when individuals again you. I selected extremely marathons as a result of I wished to essentially 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 also 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 approach of doing one thing optimistic out of a damaging. I agreed to run 3x 50K Extremely marathons this yr and in addition cowl the gap between Lands Finish and John O’Groats within the yr.
“Over £2,500 has been raised for my charity up to now, I might love to boost over £3,000 earlier than I finish it. I ran a 50k in Might 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.
“The entire Ultras are over tough typically very technical terrain with loads of elevation acquire so I’ve needed to situation my physique as finest as I can for the races. I don’t assume I’ve accomplished too dangerous for a forty five yr outdated fats bloke with a biscuit knee who has by no means actually been a runner!”
And while the vast majority of his successes are right down to his personal onerous 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 after I first received began with MAN v FAT. As I say, I used to be out of breath strolling just a few hundred metres however you must take small steps, I struggled to play a full 28 minutes of soccer within the early days, I can try this simply now, I can play 90 minutes with no points.
“So small steps, slowly altering food plan and shifting extra. My recommendation to anybody becoming a member of MAN v FAT is don’t attempt to do all of it on day one, alter components in small methods every day and week. Now we have had so many success tales in our league alone, a number of of the lads have hit their BMI with many selecting up share 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 help Matt along with his fundraising?
You may assist Matt attain his complete with a donation to his JustGiving web page!