Matt's story

"My sister died the November before I ran the marathon. She was 11 months older than me, and we were incredibly close, like twins. Cancer took her away from us.

"She was an incredible, larger-than-life person. She’d had a hard life in many ways, but she was the most positive person you could ever meet. She didn't judge anyone; she was so lovely. Everyone who knew her, loved her."

Matt wanted his challenge to celebrate Lisa's life in a way that felt joyful and helped others.

"So, I wanted to raise money in her memory, and the idea of the big pink fairy costume came from a photo of her when she had gone to a rugby cup final match dressed like that. And I thought, I'll run like that as well."

"It is just good to know I have raised this money, in memory of her. I just want people to know my sister Lisa. She was such a good person, and she would have been so proud of me and my brother raising money for important causes. I ran with a photo of her and to just tell her story in a good way has been brilliant."

Matt and Lisa spent their childhood in Tanzania, an experience that shaped the way they saw the world.

"I used to live in Tanzania as a child. East Africa is my world. I went to school in Dar es Salaam. It was amazing, what a place. It made me think about the world in a certain way."

These precious memories made supporting Oxfam feel like a natural way to honour Lisa.

"I can't raise money for something I don't understand or don't believe in. I have to be passionate about it.

"Rightly or wrongly I always associate Oxfam with Africa where my sister and I grew up. There are so many charities, but it is a great brand, and it does good things. I can only support a charity I believe in."

"Oxfam's work feels close to home and my sister would have been there every step of the way and supported my choice. Even more so with the stupid fairy outfit we wore."

Matt’s marathon run became a celebration of Lisa's life, supported by thousands of people cheering him on.

"The support from the crowd was incredible. People laugh, smile and make comments. I love it, it's like being a celebrity.

"The Oxfam supporters were amazing. I stopped and spent some time at each support station. There was one on Tower Bridge, one at Canary Wharf, it was just brilliant."

For Matt, fundraising has become a powerful way to keep Lisa's memory alive.

"Raising money for Oxfam has given meaning and a legacy for Lisa. People like Lisa can live on through raising money. We don't forget her, but I don't want anyone else to. She was cool, she was brilliant – she IS brilliant, not was, IS. Her meaning lives on."

And Lisa continues to inspire what's next.

"My next challenge, I want to fly to southern Spain, run to another airport about a fifty-mile run and then fly back – all in one day. The money for that, I'll give to Oxfam."

Every gift given in memory of a loved one keeps their values alive and helps build a kinder, fairer world in their name. Their beliefs matter – and they don’t have to end.

Whether you choose to fundraise, set up a tribute fund or make a donation in memory, together you can continue the fight for what mattered most to them.