Matt More from Sheffield will be walking 130 miles in a month in honour of his dad who has recently been diagnosed with PSP.
Matt is beginning his sponsored walk for UK charity PSPA on his birthday, Tuesday 16 March and aims to finish on 16 April 2021.
The start of Matt’s walking challenge, comes just a couple weeks after his dad, Dave, received his diagnosis of PSP at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, after being ill for a number of years.
Matt aims to tackle longer walks each weekend during the month, with family members and friends volunteering to join Matt on different days as he covers the 130 miles, which is approximately the same distance between his house in Sheffield and his parents’ home in Cambridge.
Matt says of his challenge “Finally receiving dad’s diagnosis of PSP was a small lift for our family. It meant we could seek additional help and support from the right people and associations, including the charity PSPA. I wanted to take on a challenge for PSPA after dad’s diagnosis because PSP is so rare, and not many people have heard of it before.
“With the nation in lockdown and my dad being high risk, I have not been able to return home to Cambridge much. With this in mind I decided to walk the equivalent distance from Sheffield to my home address in Cambridge within a month.”
After announcing his #WalkingforDave challenge on Facebook, Matt raised more than £2000 within the first 24 hours.
Matt adds “Words cannot describe the overwhelming gratitude me and my family have for the support and generosity shown by all the great family and friends within the first 24 hours is launching the #WALKINGFORDAVE campaign. I have had to raise the target several times which is amazing.”
Sarah Day, Events Fundraiser for PSPA said: “Matt’s challenge and drive are inspirational. He’s created a challenge that allows his friends and family to stay connected, whilst raising awareness and funds together. It’s amazing to see the support network behind him.”
Following the walk, Matt and other members of his family aim to take on more challenges across the year to help raise awareness of PSP in the UK.
You can sponsor Matt’s #WalkingforDave challenge by visiting his Just Giving page: http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matthew-morey
And you can stay up to date with Matt’s progress on PSPA’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PSPAssociation
