Former RAF Cottesmore engineer raises £11,000 for Movember with 30-marathon challenge

An RAF engineer’s epic month-long marathon challenge, which brought heatstroke and stress fractures, has been rewarded with a five-figure fundraising sum.

Matt Clarke took on a marathon every day in November, often in temperatures hitting the high 20s, to raise awareness of men’s health issues and bring in some cash for the Movember charity.

The father-of-two picked up stress fractures in his right foot after completing the 26.2-mile distance for 30 days - a staggering 786 miles in all.

But Matt has been rewarded with £11,000 of donations, and counting - more than doubling his initial £5,000 target. You can donate here.

“This has really shocked me,” Matt said.

“I thought the target was a bit ambitious, I never imagined I would get to it, so to more than double the original number is incredible.

“When the total was around £7,000, I said on social media that if I got to £10,000 - believing there was no chance of this - I would get a tattoo to commemorate the feat.

“The donations soon started flowing in from friends and now I have an appointment with an artist this week. Who needs enemies?”

Matt was stationed for five years at Cottesmore ,where he met his future wife Rebecca, before taking up a chief technician role at RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus. He is now keen to settle back in Rutland and is looking for a posting closer to home.

Most of the marathons were completed at the Cypriot base, running seven laps of a 6km loop which allowed friends and colleagues to keep him company for a lap or two, including the Station Commander.

And it was the camaraderie which kept him going through any low ebbs.

“The support has been mindblowing,” he said.

“I knew I would get plenty of friends running with me whenever they could, but the sheer number of people that I had never met before who asked if they could come and join me for stints was insane.

“I genuinely doubt whether I would have got through it without the constant support from everyone.”

While the physical effort involved is obvious enough, it was the mental toll which proved the bigger test hurdle.

“I was extremely lucky that I had only minor injuries and just one blister the whole month,” he said.

“But getting up and going again each morning for the few times I was running alone was very tough.

“There were times where I thought I wasn’t going to finish a day, but then a voice note would come through from someone, or a beep of a horn, or cheer from some kids, and instantly I would feel better and pick myself up.”

Matt’s highlights included a surprise visit from his parents on his 30th and final run, and being joined by local school pupils on his penultimate marathon.

“My absolute favourite moment that almost broke me was when my daughter Philippa hugged me at the end of my day three run,” he recalled.

“Normally if I’ve been out running or training and I come home, the first thing she will say is ‘are you sweaty?’. If so, there is no way I’d get a hug.

“But on day three, I ran 103 laps and when I finished, Philippa ran over and said ‘I don’t care if you’re sweaty, you’re getting a hug’.”

Although the running shoes have only just been tidied away, another challenge is already brewing.

A few years ago, Matt ascended and descended the equivalent of Mount Everest on a set of aircraft steps in eight minutes shy of 24 hours.

“I later found out I was less than an hour outside the world record, so I would like to see if I can break that,” he said.

But for now, it’s time for some hard-earned R and R and reflection.

“Physically I’m still recovering,” he added.

“Speaking with others who have completed similar distances, it could be months until I’m feeling normal again.

“But that’s the point, I will recover, and I will be ok. Not everyone does get better when they’re unwell or injured - they’re the ones I think about when I’m struggling.”