Sailor runs 16 marathons in 13 days to raise money for mother's cancer treatment
A Royal Navy Engineer has run from Scotland to Portsmouth - the equivalent of 16 marathons over 13 days – to raise money for his mother's cancer treatment.
Covering 414 miles across the UK, Able Rate Will Matthews, a Survival Equipment Technician, ran an average of 31.8 miles whilst carrying his equipment by day and sleeping in a bivvy bag by night.
On 5 October, the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton-based engineer set off from Gretna Green on the Scottish border and finished on 17 October in Portsmouth.
AB Matthews said: "I chose to do this challenge because I wanted to get the word out there about the fundraising.
"With my mum battling four-stage cancer, we needed to raise quite a bit of money for the chemotherapy treatment.
"And having seen previous fundraisers and charity events such as the Hardest Geezer running the length of Africa, I thought I'd try and do something of a similar scale.
"Coming into Portsmouth Naval Base today and seeing my mum, dad and brother was really overwhelming.
"I have been thinking about this moment and coming to the finish line for the past two weeks.
"It was good to have a lot of people from the Royal Navy as well here today to show their support."
Before taking on this incredible challenge for his mother, AB Matthews had never run a marathon.
However, his mother Lorna has been battling stage 4 oesophageal cancer for the past two years, and the family required £18,000 in hopes of accessing a promising new treatment.
Upon crossing the finish line in Portsmouth Naval Base on 17 October, he was reunited with his mother, father and brother.
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