When The Ben Saunders Foundation (BSF) asked me to become an ambassador for them I was honoured. The charity was started to raise funds to support Children and Young adults with cancer within the UK. The founder 'Ben Saunders' was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer sarcoma attached to his heart which was diagnosed in October 2019. It spread into his lungs which meant he faced many challenges along the way. These include two major open-heart surgeries and 6 rounds of very intense chemotherapy.

These are just some of the things he experienced along his cancer journey and his wish was to help and offer whatever he could, alongside his family and the foundation, to offer support to young people with cancer. Ben felt privileged to have been fortunate enough throughout his journey to have received the support he did, whether that being mentally, physically, or a short holiday with friends to Centre Parcs.

Ben said 'I feel everyone in these circumstances deserves to be given as much support and happiness as possible.'

Ben set up the Foundation shortly before he passed away in August 2020 - since then the charity has helped over 300 cancer-affected families, create forever lasting memories, whilst staying at the lodges that the foundation has been able to purchase.

As many of you know from my previous challenge Ben's dad Tom is a friend of mine from when we played football together as kids.

As an ambassador, my role is to help raise awareness of the charity and hopefully some extra funds along the way.

What are my challenges for 2024:

1. The Welsh 3 Peaks - May 18th. Complete all 3 peaks in 24 hours. Snowdon in north Wales, Cadair Idris in Mid-Wales, and Pen y Fan in south Wales. - COMPLETED

2. The Welsh 3000 - 14 peaks over 3000ft in 20 hours (Over 4000m of ascent) - June 8th 24 - COMPLETED IN 15HRS 13MINS

2a. Swansea Half Marathon - after completing the Welsh 3000 the night before I will be trying to run the Swansea HM!! June 9th 24 COMPLETED IN 1HR 34MINS

3. The Bath Two Tunnels Ultra Marathon - August 18th - 55km running through old railway and M.O.D tunnels. COMPLETED IN 5HR 1 MIN

4. Nice UTMB 55km Ultra Marathon - Oct 5th 2024.

5. Hyrox London - Cross fit endurance challenge - May 4th - COMPLETED

6. Hyrox Birmingham - Cross fit endurance challenge - Oct 26th

7. Hyrox Valencia - Nov 24th 2024

Anything you can do to either help raise funds, or raise awareness of this amazing charity is truly appreciated.

Thank you

Matthew x