MARATHON MAN MATT AIMING TO MAKE HISTORY
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Matt King is a remarkable young man. In April 2004 at the age of just 17, playing in his first professional Rugby League match for London Broncos Academy, Matt sustained a serious spinal injury 20 seconds into the game which left him permanently paralysed from the neck down and requiring a ventilator to breathe.
After spending 10 months in hospital, Matt showed incredible determination to continue to live his life to the full by returning to school to finish his A Levels and going on to study Law at the University of Hertfordshire.
In October 2006, with the help of the Rugby League charity XIII Heroes, Matt made history by becoming the first person in the world with his level of spinal injury to complete a Half-Marathon when he took part in the BUPA Great North Run.
This achievement caught the attention of the US based Christopher Reeve Foundation (Matt?s injury is the same as that suffered by the ?Superman? actor) and an even more audacious plan began to take shape. After being turned down for the London Marathon on health and safety grounds Matt set his sights on crossing the Atlantic to complete the 2007 ING New York Marathon instead.
On Sunday November 4th, the plan will become a reality when once again Matt will make history by becoming the first person with his level of injury to attempt the Marathon.
Following a massive fundraising effort and after clearing through mountains of red tape to make the trip possible, Matt and a team of six volunteers representing XIII Heroes flew out of London Heathrow airport on Wednesday 31st October, headed for the Big Apple and the challenge of a lifetime. Running alongside Matt for the whole of the 26 mile course will be Gina Coldrick from Warrington, Paul O?Brien from Widnes, Helen Goldthorpe from Wigan, Craig Drake from Bradford, Laura Harrison from London and XIII Heroes founder Chris Hawkins from Oldham.
The trip would not have been possible without the generous support of main team sponsor Anglo Irish Bank which donated a five-figure sum, and RFL Chief Executive Richard Lewis who granted permission for XIII Heroes to make a bucket collection at this year?s Super League Grand Final between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens. Halbro have also donated specially designed kit bags, tracksuits, training jackets and polo shirts for Matt and his team. Special thanks are also due to British Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey Thompson who took time out from her busy schedule to provide Matt with some invaluable one-to-one advice on how to tackle the Marathon.
Anyone who would like to show their support for Matt and his team by making a donation to XIII Heroes can do so by visiting the website at www.13heroes.com
Further Information
XIII Heroes - Registered Charity: 1110267
Tel: 07799 470710 ? Email: team@xiiiheroes.com
Postal Address: 11a Martin Avenue, Salem, Oldham, OL4 5HF
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