Wigan runner praises NHS staff for their work in Covid-19 pandemic

Matthew, who is known as the Wigan Runner, completed a 5k each day for more than four years before his incredible streak of 1,479 days was brought to an abrupt end by appendicitis.

He had to spend several days in Wigan Infirmary having his appendix removed and has been ordered to rest and not get his trainers on for a few weeks.

However, Pemberton resident Matthew has asked the public to continue running each day in his absence from the streets and has been celebrating their achievements on social media.

Having seen the work of NHS staff up close he is also determined to raise money for the borough’s hospital trust, in particular its Three Wishes charity and Aspull ward where he was looked after.

Matthew, 36, said: “Being in hospital really made me appreciate just how much pressure the NHS is under at the moment.

“It was seeing all the protocols they have to go through as well as doing their job. Everyone was wearing masks and it was pretty harrowing really to think that they are doing that every single day.

“We’re all told to stay at home but they go out into the firing line where there are so many people who have coronavirus. They have to look after people as they normally would while protecting them from getting the coronavirus as well.

“From the cleaners, health care assistants, nurses, doctors and everyone behind the scenes, who are working so hard, they deserve so much recognition.”

Matthew ended up in hospital having experienced sudden pains in his stomach over a period of 12 to 18 months but then dismissing them when they disappeared.

On the morning of January 17, however, the pain came in the early hours and did not go away.

“I felt it in the right side of my stomach and I knew this is where is my appendix was,” Matthew said. “I tried to run on what would have been the 1,479th consecutive day, but that was when I knew I had to ring my doctor.”

He was advised to go straight to A&E where he was told he would be staying overnight in hospital before having surgery.

Matthew is now back at home and says he is recovering “slowly but surely” from his spell in hospital.

He says he will auction off on social media some of the gear which he has been using while running over the past four years, with trainers and headsets likely to be among the items up for sale.

He wants to help raise money for the wards and get the hospital some much-needed equipment.

Matthew thanked everyone who had continued to run while he was in hospital.

His runners include athletes from Wigan and the North West as well as from further afield in Australia and the USA.

He said one person had even submitted a 13.1-mile half-marathon they had completed.

He has set a fund-raising target of £1,480 to match the number of consecutive days of running he got up to before illness intervened.

To find out more or donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-keep-this-journey-streak-going-everyday

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