Matthew aims to score £135,000 goal in If U Care Share football run

Matthew Smith will set off on a 900-mile run to every Premier League ground on Monday (August 5) morning.

The charity founder, who turned 30 last week, is running to all 20 of England’s leading clubs for the rest of August – from AFC Bournemouth to his beloved Newcastle United – to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, as well as raise vital funds.

And despite some sponsors failing to materialise over the last few days and weeks, to support the gruelling venture, Matthew and his team at the Chester-le-Street-based If U Care Share Foundation have decided to go ahead with the 25-day marathon.  

Their fundraising target is £135,000 – an ambitious but significant amount.

The 135 represents the number of people – family, friends, work colleagues, health and emergency service professionals – who are impacted by one person taking their own life, according to the World Health Organisation.

The study, by Dr Julie Cerel, a suicide prevention and exposure expert from the University of Kentucky, showed that 761,670 people across this country were affected by suicide in 2022, and with the North East still showing the highest suicide rates in the UK, it means thousands are profoundly touched by death by suicide every week. 

Matthew has been training and pleading for support for several weeks and, earlier this week, in an emotional recording online, he revealed the run was on the verge of collapse before he had even set off due to lack of support.

He also revealed he is still arranging accommodation throughout the route.

Matthew said: ”There were a couple of companies who said they would help but some of that just hasn’t come to fruition.

“We are around £20,000 out from where we expected to be at this point. I basically need £7,000 and help with places to stay along the way.

“We are just trying to reach out to anyone and everyone who can support us. Businesses, individuals… just to try and get us where we need to be before we start.

“Crucial suicide prevention funding has, unfortunately, come to an end which has significantly affected our ability to support certain areas of the North East, and in order to continue our lifesaving work, we need the support of the local communities, businesses and influential figures more than ever.

“The run’s happening, I need to do it but there is a long way to go, not just the running but with the fundraising and support.”

Ten years ago, Matthew and his family set up the charity If U Care Share in the memory of his brother Daniel, then 19, who took his own life unexpectedly.

They initially sold wristbands before matches at Sunderland and Newcastle’s grounds and now it is one of the leading providers of mental health and suicide prevention workshops in the country – delivering to businesses, schools and professional football club academies.

The charity has delivered workshops to all Premier League clubs, and the majority of English Football League and Women’s Super League clubs too, and Matthew was keen to build on the football theme for this latest fundraising event.

 

 

Today, the amateur footballer and his small team set off for Bournemouth – where he will be introduced to fans on Sunday ahead of the club’s pre-season friendly against Real Betis.

He then sets off for Southampton on Monday morning before heading along the south coast to Brighton and hopes to be at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, the first of the seven London clubs, on Friday.

Matthew then plans to call at Brentford, Fulham, Chelsea, West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal across next weekend before the long journey east to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.

His aim is to set off from Suffolk to the Midlands on Wednesday, August 14 – taking in Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Wolves over the course of a week – before he heads to the North West’s four big clubs, Liverpool, Everton, Manchester United and Premier League champions Manchester City. 

The final stretch from Manchester to Newcastle is expected to take five days and Matthew is currently scheduled to arrive at St James’ Park on Friday, August 30, two days before Eddie Howe’s team host Spurs.

Earlier this year, staff at the If U Care Share offices in Chester-le-Street established ‘Mission 135’ and ‘Club 135’, which were aimed at attracting businesses across the region to raise funds and make up for the loss of suicide prevention-specific funding.

A number of companies pledged support after the launch at Close House Golf Club, but have so far failed to stump up the cash, and only a last minute intervention from Regen Group, Blue Moon Marketing and Premier Graphics has guaranteed Matthew and his team can set off this weekend.

He added: “The good news is that we have a mode of transport, thanks to these companies making it happen, and it’s proof of business coming together, promising something and coming through with it.

“A lot of businesses and individuals have told me they want to help, and I am spending so much time on my phone. But the amount of times I have been left on red, or people have read but not replied to messages, has been so frustrating.

“But the van shows the difference actually helping can make and what it can do because this will mean we are not spending money on transport and that all the money we raise this month can go towards saving lives. 

“For example, I don’t want to spend a single penny on hotel rooms – if I have to, I’ll sleep in the van. But any support, anywhere to stay on the route, anything anyone can do to make a difference, so we can continue to save lives, would be much appreciated.”

If U Care Share was established in 2006 by the family of Matthew’s brother Daniel O’Hare, who had no previous history of mental health problems nor shown any outward signs of his intention. 

His younger brothers Matthew and Ben, and cousin Sarah, first started selling wristbands to raise money and in 2011, If U Care Share Foundation became a registered charity with three main aims: prevention, intervention and support of those bereaved by suicide. 

Since then, the charity has provided support across the country, but particularly in the North East, to those who have lost loved ones to suicide, as well as help and advice to those who are at risk of taking their own life.

 

For more information, visit If U Care Share Foundation and to donate to Matthew’s challenge, visit https://bit.ly/IUCS_PL