A Cheltenham man is taking on a year of physical challenges to celebrate and remember his wife Katy and raise money for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.
“Katy was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016,” says Matt Miles, who launched the ‘Miles for Katy’ campaign on her birthday this year. “She went through various treatments, multiple surgeries and never once complained. That was just her, strong, kind, and full of life.”
Katy, a former Detective Sergeant at Gloucestershire Constabulary, found comfort and creativity at Sue Ryder during her illness. “She started going to Sue Ryder for day services. It was there she got into her painting. She’d retired from the police by then and set up a small art business. Hundreds of people bought her paintings.”
But it wasn’t just the art that made a difference. “There was a brilliant doctor there, Paul Perkins. Katy had real issues with pain control, and he found alternative ways to help her. She went from being almost bedbound to active again, doing things she loved. The care she received was extraordinary.
“Katy spent her final three weeks at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, and I lived there with her, along with her sister, Lucy. We couldn’t have asked for more support, everyone made an impossibly difficult time bearable. We had tea parties in the middle of the night with the nurses and cleaners. It was surreal, but beautiful.”
Matt continued to share what inspired his campaign. “The care Sue Ryder provides from the Cheltenham hospice and in the community relies heavily on donations, that really stuck with me. We watched a film about the Camino de Santiago and Katy suggested I do it myself to raise money for Sue Ryder, so I am. I’m doing the full 800km walk a year and a day after she died. That first plan sparked the idea for nine months of challenges.”
Matt’s campaign includes a series of physical challenges linked to Katy’s passions. He’ll be taking on everything from a 14.81-mile row, the Camino de Santiago, Sue Ryder Big Dip Cheltenham, 1,481 burpees, the London Marathon plus many more.
Matt has set a fundraising target of £10,481, linked to Katy’s police collar number, 1481. Matt explained: “A lot of the challenges and the fundraising total are linked to that number. I’m pretty shell-shocked by the support so far, I’ve already raised over £2,000. But it’s also not surprising as everyone loved Katy so much. By doing the events continuously, it keeps her memory alive.
“I’m most looking forward to the London Marathon. It’s a privilege to do it at all, let alone for Sue Ryder, and it’ll be the final challenge. The Camino will be the most therapeutic, with it starting a year to the day after Katy died.”
Matt said that exercise has been a lifeline for him. “You grow layers around grief, but it’s always there. Exercise is the one thing that helps me switch off. It gives me that mindful space. You feel tired, but you feel good.”
Asked what will keep him motivated during the toughest moments of his challenges, Matt said: “What will keep me going is Katy. She was in so much pain, and she just got on with it. She was known as ‘Katy Smiles’. That’s what I hold onto. I also will be driven knowing that the money I raise will help to make sure other people get the same support we did from Sue Ryder. They need that money to keep going.
“I can’t ever explain how special Sue Ryder is. All the staff, volunteers, cleaners, caterers, nurses and doctors, they’re amazing. It’s a family. They provide kindness, support, guidance and laughter during a time that’s impossible to describe. It’s also a place where you can continue to go to reflect and find sanctuary. I often go just to sit on her bench.
“I promised Katy I’d take on these events – to raise money, and to promote the work Sue Ryder does. That’s what Miles for Katy is about. One step at a time.”
You can donate to Matt’s fundraising here: Matthew Miles is fundraising for Sue Ryder
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About Sue Ryder:
At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load. For more than 70 years, we have been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. We are a safe and reassuring hand you can reach for. From providing care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need. We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.
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