A former Army Sergeant Major is to walk, row or run 11 miles a day for 11 days in the run up to Remembrance Day to raise money for the charity he works for.
Matt Norman, who served in 7 Para RHA from Gnr (Gunner) to Regimental Sergeant Major, has launched a ‘Remembrance Challenge’ to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) where he works as Operations Lead at its Charlton Farm Hospice in Wraxall.
His Remembrance Challenge, which runs from November 1-11, is the latest in a series of endeavours that Matt, who joined the forces aged 22, has undertaken this year to raise money for the charity.
Matt, 50 has already walked to and from work from his home in Kingswood for a week, ran the Bristol Half Marathon and taken part in CHSW’s annual Ride for Precious Lives.
He has also completed the Great Weston Ride, climbed the Three Peaks and walked a 50km Bridge 2 Bridge Walk from Clifton Suspension Bridge to Pultney Bridge in Bath.
His final challenge will see him undertake a 12 hour fit-a-thon at David Lloyd Fitness in Long Ashton on December 14 where he will face a round the clock mix of rowing, riding and circuit training.
Staff at the hospice have already signed up to help Matt at the fit-a-thon, running from 8am to 8pm, along with families supported at Charlton Farm.
Matt joined the Army in 1996 and did his basic training at Pirbright in Surrey.
He then joined the Royal Artillery at Larkhill where he did his gunnery training before volunteering to serve in Airborne Forces.
He then went on to serve with 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, completing his para selection course (P-Company) and parachute jump training.
Matt was then posted to Aldershot before moving with the rest of the Airborne Brigade to Colchester where he rose up the ranks to the position of Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major.)
During his time in the forces Matt served in Bosnia as part of a peace keeping mission and in Kosovo in 1999 and 2004.
He also served in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2011 before leaving the forces in 2018.
Matt joined Children’s Hospice South West in May 2023.
“For any member of the Armed Forces, Remembrance Day is a big thing,” said Matt.
“I served alongside comrades that never made it back from Afghanistan and some of my friends are still suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to what they encountered in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
“Armistice is a time to remember all the veterans which gave their lives for their country so we can all live the lives we do today.”
Matt has set himself a target of raising £5,000 for CHSW from the challenges he is completing this year, so far raising £3,500.
“I’m inspired everyday by the wonderful staff that make Charlton Farm such a special place for families of children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions,” said Matt.
“The hospice allows them to absolutely make the most of what are often short but always precious lives.
“The money raised will help support the charity to continue its vital work which I am proud to be part of.”
Anyone who wants to support Matt and make a donation can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/page/matt-norman.