Matt Davies, made it to the finals for being at the forefront of fundraising efforts in his wife, Jo’s memory for Jo’s Appeal.
Matt Davies is sports editor at the Evening Mail. His wife Jo, a much loved writer at the paper, died in August 2015 from cancer, aged just 38. That would be enough to stop most people in their tracks but Matt decided to throw himself into the cause, continuing to fundraise in her memory.
Since then Matt has been at the forefront of fundraising efforts in Jo’s memory for Jo’s Appeal, raising money for St Mary’s Hospice, Furness General Hospital Oncology Unit and the Eve Appeal, a charity close to Jo’s heart.
About a year ago the fundraising total sat at around £8k and it was suggested it would top 10k by the end of the year. Matt was not convinced that would happen, but it did and it is now looking likely that by the end of 2016 it will reach £50k.
Matt has achieved this by rallying friends and colleagues to get involved in events from the Keswick 2 Barrow to quiz nights, leading walkers over Lakeland Fells and taking part in an array of sporting challenges himself. He quite literally has gone the extra mile for his cause and in turn his community. He spends most weekends competing in triathlons and other sporting events most of us couldn’t even begin to tackle.
Matt would be the first to protest that this was not him, it was many, however without his drive and determination and courage his supporters do not believe much of it would have happened.
Matt has helped raise awareness for Jo and everything she stood for and all the while raising thousands for Jo’s charity.
His friend and supporters say “Jo would be the proudest wife in the world, and we are all so proud of him too, Thank you Matt for being the person we all aspire to be!”
TO VOTE FOR MATT IN THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
TEXT LBA24 to 82055
With thanks to Blake Henderson Ltd for sponsoring this award
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Voting closes at 6.00pm on the Sunday 19th February 2017. Any votes received after then may be charged but will not be counted.
The winner will be announced at The Love Barrow Awards on Friday 10th March 2017 and will be announced via Facebook and Twitter also.