A former member of the British Army from North Wales was humbled to run his first London Marathon to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Matt Spruce, 41-years-old and from Colwyn Bay, took on the gruelling 26.2 mile run on 23 April and finished in three hours and 55 minutes.
He says:
“I loved every single minute of it.
“It was a hugely humbling experience to see the effort made by thousands of runners to raise money and awareness for so many incredible charities.
“The weather didn’t dampen my spirits, although it did cause my headphones to stop working! At first, I thought this was a problem but actually it allowed me to experience the noise and support from the amazing crowds.
“The finish was an emotional experience not only for completing the marathon but also for raising money for such an incredible charity. People have been incredibly generous during a period of austerity; I feel humbled that they donated and helped me raise an incredible amount of money for Blind Veterans UK.”
Matt joined the British Army at 16 and served for 23 years as a Combat Medical Technician in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
“During my time I served in several operations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and I saw first-hand the devastating injuries suffered by our Service men and women.
“I find it incredibly humbling to see the work military charities like Blind Veterans UK do to better the lives of those who have suffered life changing injuries.
“I was fortunate to leave the military unscathed but that isn’t to say I won’t need support from a military charity in the future and I feel very lucky to be able to support the work that Blind Veterans UK does.”
Matt aimed to raise £2,000 for Blind Veterans UK and has exceeded his target raising £2,620.
If you are inspired by Matt and would like to apply for a place in next year’s London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK visit the charity’s website: blindveterans.org.uk/events/london-marathon
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/support
