A Liverpool runner is training for next April’s London Marathon to raise funds and awareness for the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Matty Armstrong is aiming to raise £2000 for the charity and is training almost every day outside of his full-time career as a housing officer.
The 42-year-old is aiming to raise awareness of helping deaf children who went through the same struggles as his wife.
“I chose this charity as my wife is deaf and has been since she was three,” he said.
“The stories she has told me over the years about growing up with her disability genuinely breaks my heart. We have three daughters together who support my wife.”
Emma, Matty’s wife, contracted meningitis when she was three and she experiences health battles throughout her whole life.
Despite her struggles, the 35-year-old has two degrees in teaching and English literature and now teaches students with special education needs (SEN) at Petty Pool College in Cheshire.
Matty is now aiming to raise funds and awareness for the NDCS in hopes of helping children who went through the same struggles as his wife. He has raised £240 so far.
The dad of three told Mersey Sport Live: “Just recently, we went to the pharmacist to pick up my daughter’s prescription.
“The fire alarm went off, I was outside and had to rush in because she could not hear it, and she was sat all on her own. I just thought if I were not there it could have been dangerous. Things like this breaks my heart.”
The runner has already completed a half Marathon and explained: “It’s getting much harder because of the cold weather.
“I wear a torch on my head and a hi-vis jacket, I’m all set. There are still five months left, and I hope the funds and the fitness will be there by April.
“It is always something I have thought of doing, I have never really done it and stepped out of my comfort zone. It helps because everyone is involved in the cause.”
Emma is also raising funds by selling homemade arts and crafts.
“I was inspired by last year’s London marathon,” Matty said.
“I saw someone was running for charity and I thought I would love to do something like that, it is something selfless and I have always been interested in fitness.”
Matty has a goal of not stopping at all during the marathon, and his fundraiser can be found here.
.){kind=link}