Brothers run five marathons in five days for spinal charity

Two brothers are running five marathons in five days to raise money for spinal cord injury research after a close friend was paralysed in a motorbike accident.

The challenge began yesterday in Brighton, with friends and supporters joining them along the route to raise awareness and funds for Spinal Research after a close friend was paralysed from the waist down in a motorbike accident.

Matt, 27, and Jonathan, known as Jono, 25, were born in Zimbabwe but moved to the UK after Jono received a cricket scholarship to Brighton College in 2017.

Jono went on to represent Zimbabwe in the Under-19 World Cup and played cricket for Durham University while studying for a sports and exercise science degree.

“We will be thinking about our friend Teak when things get tough, Jon said.

“Watching his strength, resilience, and determination has inspired us both.

“It opened our eyes to what people with spinal cord injuries face every single day and made us want to do something meaningful to help.”

The brothers aim to raise £5,000 by completing 131 miles over five days.

They are also running next year’s London Marathon for Spinal Research, the UK’s charity funding new treatments and therapies for spinal cord repair.

Matt, an agricultural recycling manager from Newent, Gloucestershire, said: “Running five marathons in five days will be brutal, both physically and mentally.

“But we’ll only be pushing ourselves for a few days while those living with spinal injuries face immense challenges every day of their lives.”

“This is our way of standing beside them, one step, one mile and one marathon at a time.”

Suzanne Redding, head of audience and community at Spinal Research, said: “Good luck to Jono and Matt! We are blown away by what they are doing – five marathons in five days is a huge physical and mental challenge.”

“This is a crucial and exciting time in the journey to restore functions, movement and hope which are all so cruelly taken by spinal cord injuries.”

“Today, for the first time, we are seeing treatments coming through which will truly change lives and every penny raised by Matt and Jono will help us get these to paralysed people as quickly as possible.”