Brothers take on five marathons in five days for Spinal Research

Good luck to brothers Matt and Jonathan Conolly as they take on five marathons in five days for Spinal Research.

The brothers are pushing themselves to the limit to raise awareness and money for spinal cord injury repair after a close friend was paralysed from the waist down in a devastating motorbike accident.

Matt and Jonathan, known as Jono, were born in Zimbabwe but the family moved to the UK after talented sportsman Jono got a cricketing scholarship to Brighton College in 2017. 

The brothers’ epic 131-mile marathon challenge starts in Brighton tomorrow (November 12) and finishes near the family home at Painswick Cricket Club, Gloucestershire, on Sunday, November 16. In between the brothers will complete 26.2-mile routes around Cirencester and two across London.

Matt, 27, an agricultural recycling manager from Newent, Gloucestershire, said: “What happened to our friend opened our eyes to what people with spinal cord injuries face every single day and made us want to do something meaningful to help. 

This isn’t just about running. It’s about hope, purpose, and movement and our motto is every step for someone who can’t.”

“We will be thinking about him when things get tough. Watching his strength, resilience, and determination has inspired us both. This isn’t just about running. It’s about hope, purpose, and movement and our motto is every step for someone who can’t.”

Matt and Jono will also be dedicating each of their five marathons to someone paralysed after a spinal cord injury and Jono, 25, added: “We only came up with this crazy idea a couple of months ago and it has just got bigger than we ever thought with people wanting to join us on the route which is really humbling and inspiring. 

“Running five marathons in five days will be brutal, both physically and mentally. But we’ll only be pushing ourselves for a few days while those living with spinal injuries face immense challenges every day of their lives. 

“This is our way of standing beside them, one step, one mile and one marathon at a time.”

The brothers are also running next year’s London Marathon for Spinal Research. Suzanne Redding, Head of Audience and Community, said: “Good luck to Jono and Matt! We are blown away by what they are doing – five marathons in five days is a huge physical and mental challenge.

“This is a crucial and exciting time in the journey to restore functions, movement and hope which are all so cruelly taken by spinal cord injuries. 

“Today, for the first time, we are seeing treatments coming through which will truly change lives and every penny raised by Matt and Jono will help us get these to paralysed people as quickly as possible.”

To support Jono and Matt on their Five Marathons in Five Days Challenge go to:  http://bit.ly/49CFujn