A soldier from Salford said he found running a gruelling 30-mile ultra-marathon in support of a local mental health charity “good” and “challenging.”
Matty Calderwood, who serves in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, raised more than £2,000 by running the Porth i Gymru ultra marathon around the Welsh town of Abergavenny on 4 July.
The 22-year-old completed the challenge to raise funds for Jak’s World, an Ordsall-based suicide prevention charity founded by parents Ronak and Kasia Halani after their son Jakub died by suicide in 2023.
Matty was friends with Jakub and was left “heartbroken” by his death.
Upon completing the race, he dedicated the ultra-marathon effort to Jakub in a moving message:
“I did this for you brother every sweat, tear and mile was for you,” he wrote.
“I miss you like mad but I know you were watching me in it all and being my guardian angel.”
The 22-year-old had always planned to raise funds for the charity but was unable to display its logo while competing as an Army boxer.
“Since the charity started, I have always told myself I would do something to raise funds for it because it is such an amazing cause,” Matty explained before the ultra-marathon.
The well-conditioned athlete ran a spectacular scenic route through the Brecon Beacons mountain range in South Wales, overcoming 5,000 ft elevation gain.
Speaking after the run, he highlighted that the run was “good challenging” despite warm weather and the elevation. “The heat and elevation were expected and I knew I could do it,” he said.
“The charity was helpful and supported me the whole way through. I have raised £2,000 through my own account and the fundraising page.”
Matty, who grew up on Seedley Park Road, said he was a troublemaker before joining the army and described the transformative effect military service has had on his life.
“Being in the army has given me discipline and made me a man of my word,” he said.
Ahead of the ultra-marathon, he told Salford Now that he would make the ultra-marathon longer if he could.
Asked if he could have gone around the punishing course again, he said: “I could do it again, yes. With my mental resilience and determination, I think so.”
He is planning to run another ultra-marathon in September.
Ahead of the demanding endurance challenge, Matty has already raised more than £1,000 for the charity. Jak’s World runs regular community meetups across Salford, including park runs and relaxed craft sessions designed to help people meet others and boost their wellbeing.
The cash raised by the fleet-footed soldier will allow the group to continue their hard work helping people who are struggling with their mental health.
Matty said he has been blown away by the “amazing” support his fundraiser has received from the “brilliant Salford community.”
While his ultra-marathon attempt has been completed, it is still possible to donate to the fundraiser in aid of Jak’s World. More information is available here.
