Matthew Gaut is gearing up for one of his biggest challenges yet to help raise important funds for Cure Leukaemia. In just over a week’s time, he’ll be saddling up for the charities London2Paris cycle for the second time year – but with a difference!
Matthew will be lacing up his running shoes and tacking the first leg of the challenge, 104km/65 miles, on foot in a bid to meet the cyclists in Folkestone, Dover. He’ll then be jumping on his bike and joining over 130 other cyclists to ride the remaining three days across France (374km/249 miles) to finish in Paris on the Sunday afternoon.
Matthew is taking on this epic challenge and raising funds on behalf of his son, Harry, who tragically passed away in 2016 just 8 days after his 6th birthday.
Harry was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in 2013 at only 2 years of age. Following the diagnosis, he bravely underwent over three years of treatment before entering into remission.
In 2016 he developed Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) which cruelly progressed and developed into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), with a Stem Cell Transplant offering the only hope. He fought like a lion but sadly reacted to the stem cell transplant unfavourably and tragically passed away on 21st September 2016.
As part of Matthews training, he will incredibly be completing a 100-mile run just a few days beforehand. He has set himself an initial fundraising target of £5,000 to help raise funds for the charity’s pioneering Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) Network.
Matthew commented:
“The work that the Cure Leukaemia team are doing is raising vital funds to combat this awful disease. I’m grateful to have found a charity that now feels like an extension of my family. We are now forever entwined, and I will go on doing whatever I can until I draw my last breath.”
“Harry was such a happy, loving and brave little boy who never complained about his illness and we are so very proud of him. No one should have to go through what that little boy endured.”
“Despite the incredible advances and research over the years into this cruel disease, it still takes far too many lives - young and old.”
You can help support Matt’s fundraising by donating online via his JustGiving page here.
How funds raised for Cure Leukaemia help save lives