Aug13

Update: 13th August 2012

Posted on August 13, 2012 by helpmathewtaylor

Mathew is currently receiving treatment in the rehab facility at Derby Royal Hospital, where he has been showing huge improvement over the past month or so.

Whilst in rehab, Mat is on an intensive programme of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech & language therapy- all of which seem to be paying dividends as his recent progress has been remarkable.

The most striking fact is that Mat is now able to speak and join in with a conversation. A good deal of his speech is difficult to understand at the moment but he is constantly working to rebuild the muscles in his face and tongue to be able to articulate himself more clearly (he hasn’t spoken for a year, after all).

Mat is still yet to move on to solid foods again but is able to take spoonfuls of fruit juice and water by mouth and we are hoping that it won’t be long before that is gradually stepped up to something closer to the real thing.

The other main physical improvement is that Mat is moving about a good deal; holding the phone to his ear to speak to Anda (his fiancée), moving his legs and trying to get out of bed as well as simple things like turning to face whomever is talking to him at the time.

WIth the physical improvements, it has become a lot easier to gauge Mat’s mood and, when I last saw him, he seems to be in good sorts. He’s been enjoying watching the Olympics and was laughing when I asked him what he thought about the shocking Team GB football team.

All in all, he’s doing incredibly well.

Jon Gath

Nov16

Christmas Fundraiser

Posted on November 16, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

Please join us on Saturday 17th December for a night filled with festivities and most importantly to help raise some funds for the Mathew Taylor fund.
Families welcome, children free entry.

Entertainment on the night:
Race Night
Xmas Disco & Karaoke
Buffet
Auction (tbc)

Advance Tickets:

£5 available from The Navigation Inn, 166 Spring Cottage Road, Overseal, Derbyshire DE12 6ND
(Tickets are limited to 200, first come – first served!)

Please dress your best- Xmas fancy dress welcome!

For further information please message me on here or the Facebook group.

See you there,

Simon & Heather (Mats step dad and mum) x

http://www.thenavigationinn.co.uk/

Oct10

Back in the UK

Posted on October 10, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

Mat arrived back in the UK this morning where his condition was described as comfortable and stable. He has now been transferred to a ground ambulance and is on his way up the motorway to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Mathew will be admitted to the Adult Intensive Care Unit at QMC. Only close family will be allowed to visit at this time. The family will keep everyone updated on how he is over the next few days. Absoutely brilliant that he is home here in the UK and that he has been stable and safe throughout the transfer. I cannot tell you how relieved we are.

Please, please, please continue to the raise funds and awareness as, although Mat is now back in the country, massive loans still have to be paid for and we still have a long way to go, both financially and in terms of Mat’s recovery.

Thank you for everyone’s support thus far and welcome home Mat!

Oct4

Thank you Scotland!

Posted on October 4, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

In addition to Mark Taylor’s double iron-man fundraiser – see ‘The Quest’ in other post- a lot of people north of the border are all making tremendous efforts to raise cash for the cause.

1: Thurso mum Claire Hughes persuaded her partner to enter a van competition run by Mercedes-Benz. His entry has now been short-listed and they have decided that if they can gather enough support to win the van they will donate it to Mark’s family to sell. For information on how to add your vote visit the Help for Matthew Taylor Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/177595578974907/?ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity

2: Local fiddler Karen Steven has named a new track “Matty’s Appeal”. Copies of the track are on sale at the Picture Box in Thurso.

3: A group of local women are hitting Thurso this weekend dressed up as the St Trinian’s girls. They hope to fundraise around the pubs in the town.

4: On returning to Caithness (either October 7th or 8th) Mark and Lorna are hopeful of meeting up with the rest of the team for the last 20-mile cycle to John O’Groats. Local cyclists are welcome to join them.

5: Tesco has overturned its normal rules and is allowing Team Matty to bag-pack on Saturday and Sunday in the Thurso store.

6: On Saturday, October 8, the team will be on hand at the Co-op in Meadow Lane, Thurso, to help pack bags for the public.

Full article:
http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Thurso-businessman-Mark-Taylor-braved-the-treacherous-Pentland-Firth-for-six-mile-swim-03102011.htm

Sep23

‘The Quest’ on TV!

Posted on September 23, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

Click on the link to see the STV news report:
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/271441-scots-businessman-raising-money-for-brother-badly-injured-in-bali-motor-bike-crash/

Just over a week until they begin the first leg- don’t forget to donate!

Sep22

Meditation for Mat

Posted on September 22, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

Breathe, relax and meditate

An afternoon with a focus on health and wholeness

with Sheila Baker

At Stonesby Community Centre

On Saturday October 15^th from 2.30 to 4.30

Time to be still and relaxed, to send thoughts to those in need.

Life isn’t always a bed of roses!

No set fee but a voluntary contribution will be welcome.

All proceeds to be donated to Mathew’s Fund.

No previous experience necessary.

Bring a blanket/mat and a small firm cushion.

Drinks will be provided.

Further details from Sheila Baker on 01664 464852

Email:sheila.stonesby@btinternet.com

Aug28

‘The Quest’ (epic fundraising mission for Mat)

Posted on August 28, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

Mat’s big brother, Mark, is going to ridiculous lengths to raise money and awareness for the appeal. It involves a 6 mile open water sea swim in freezing waters, the three peak challenge and a mammoth 540 mile cycle ride…all in a week! Read the following statement of intent and be inspired to donate. Madness:

The Quest

The beginning of a long journey…….

A Six Mile Open Water Sea Swim
Sunday 2nd OctoberSometime early in the morning I will drive to the tranquil harbour of Dwarick which is on the West side of Dunnet Head (Dunnet Head the most Northerly point of mainland UK). From here David Spencer and I will begin swimming the 6 mile distance of the Pentland Firth (one of the worse stretches of water around the UK shoreline) back to Thurso, my home town. Due to the water being so cold 10/12 degrees c, I will be wearing a 2-3mm wetsuit for this and backup support from a kayack in the case of any difficulties that may arise.As neither of us have ever swam such a distance either in a pool or open water we are not totally sure of how long the task will take us. We would like to think anywhere from 3 to 4 hours, as the less time spent in the water the more chance we have of completing the task.
(Please remember we will be swimming in open water and being this far north we are very dependent on windows in the weather. Also given the time of year the tides will be considerably bigger and more ‘rippier’. Fingers crossed though we will get the oppotunity but in case not the contingency plan will be to take the swim to a local Loch and swim the same distance there).

The Three Peak Challenge
2nd and 3rd OctoberOnce we have dragged ourselves from the clutches of the sea…. many hot cafe lattes to warm us …. we will be joined by the rest of the ‘Team Matty’ Lorna Stanger, Sandy Christie waiting patiently at the shore line. We will drive the 147 miles down to Fort William. Arriving sometime in the afternoon at the foot of the magestic mountain Ben Nevis 1,344m high (one of the biggest mountains in the UK). Here we will begin the second challenge The Three Peak Challenge. We aim to achieve this in 24 hours.
(The Three Peak Challenge is where the insane climb the highest peaks in the respective countries in the UK: Ben Nevis 1,320m in Scotland; Skafell Pike 978m in England; and Snowdon 1,085m in Wales. There is no official time limit to the challenge but many take the challenge to complete it within 24 hours. This timescale also includes driving to each of the peaks).
The three of us aim to ascend the 1st mountain Ben Nevis via the Pony Track in roughly 3 hours With a descent of 2 hours which may possibly be done in darkness due to the length of daylight hours around this time of year. From here the least tired will drive to the Lake District in England.
Monday 3rd October around 04.30am …….Early, so, so early and still dark.
Hopefully Sandy and myself will have slept some….. Both of us feeling fresh….. We will begin the second of the three mountains Skafell Pike. Although the lowest of the three peaks this is often considered to be the hardest mainly because of sleep deprevation and the fact that the ascent is so steep over a short distance. We aim to reach the summit via Wasdale Head in 2 1/2 hours and descend in around 2 hours.
With no rest for the wicked, food and rest on the way we will begin the journey south again.
Arriving in Llanberis, Wales, hopefully no later than 2pm. Here we will have to work hard making up any time lost either on the previous peaks or from travelling in order to complete our challenge within the 24 hour limit set. We will tackle Snowdon via the Miners track which we hope to ascend within 2 hours then descend within 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
……………2nd Challenge complete, probably many blisters, sore bodies we will head then to my families home in Burton On Trent for respite and a comfy bed for the night. But not for long as we need to get up for the third and final challenge we have set ourselves.

A Mammoth Cycle Ride
Tuesday 4th- 8th OctoberAn early start again. After a hearty breakfast…. hopefully the biggest fry up I can imagine cooked by Simon (step dad), the final challenge will begin…. the journey home….. via John o Groats. This is where Lorna Stanger and myself will cycle the “small” distance of 540 miles North bound home. We aim to cycle 130/180 miles per day. This will hopefully take 3/4 days and no more. We will be self supported.
The route should go something like this, Burton on Trent, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Keithly, Skipton, Kendal, Carlise, Moffat, Strathaven, Paisley, Erskiene, Inverbeg, Fortwilliam, Inverness, John O Groats to eventually Thurso.
As we dont know how far we will go each day precisely we havent broken it down in stages. As some days we will be stronger and weaker on others, also day to day changes, road works, accidents on the roads all may effect the course route………………..

Well thats it folks.
The Quest…..support ‘Team Matty’.

– Mark Taylor (Mat’s brother)

Related articles…

John O’Groats Journal:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnogroat-journal.co.uk%2FNews%2FThurso-mans-daring-bid-to-help-injured-brother-31082011.htm&h=iAQBjLw36

Aug24

Buy Mat A Drink!

Posted on August 24, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

Will you include Mathew in your rounds from now on? – beer or coffee round it doesn’t matter. If everyone in the Facebook group included Mathew in a round just once each week -just a £1 each (or more if your drink costs more) – then we would have at least £1000 a week. If you have a regular, see if they will let you put a collection jar on the counter (Pub or somewhere like local Costas, so that you can put in the cost of Mathews drink each time). Then each week you can get this cashed into Mathew’s fundraising account. We promise we wont let him spend it on drinks!!!
Aunty Sandra

Aug7

Gresley FC Charity Match: 21st August, 3pm@ The Moat Ground, Church Gresley

Posted on August 7, 2011 by helpmathewtaylor

Standard

From the Gresley FC website:

Gresley FC are organising and hosting a Fundraising Football Match to raise much-needed monies towards the medical care of local lad, Mathew Taylor, who has had a horrendous accident whilst out in Bali and is in a coma.

Mathew was out there teaching less fortunate children in the poorer areas of the country. Unfortunately, he did not have medical insurance and the medical bills are at present approaching £100,000.

Mathew`s family and friends are working tirelessly to raise much-needed funds and we as a club wish to support these efforts.

The Match will be on:- SUNDAY 21ST AUGUST, 3PM KICK OFF @ THE MOAT GROUND, CHURCH GRESLEY

Confirmed as playing so far include:- Gareth Langford, Jordi Gough, Royce Turville, Tom Land, Tom Allan with appearances also from First Team Boss, Gary Norton and Reserve Team Boss, Glynn Andrews and the Derby Telegraph will be covering the story.

We are also delighted to confirm Ex-British Middleweight Boxing Legend, Neville Brown and Local Professional Boxer, Duane Parker will be joining us and we hope to be able to confirm some other Big Name Celebrities also very soon.

In addition to this we are offering the fans a chance to play also !!!!!!!!!.

Any fan wishing to make a good donation to the fund is welcome join the squad, so, any of you could be pulling on the Gresley Shirt and playing up front with Royce, at the back with Gareth or maybe in the middle with Neville Brown. Please contact me or see me if you are interested.

One Gresley FC supporter has already taken this opportunity to pull on a Gresley shirt!

Confirmed support to the event is also being given by Sam Sexton, Heavyweight Boxer, who is donated some signed items

Entertainment will also be provided by local Singing Sensation, Marc Boulton, who also wishes to support the game.

Entrance only £2 for Adults and £1 for Children and the Clubhouse will be open and Full Canteen.

Latest Up to date details on the event will be found on our facebook page www.facebook.com/gresleyfcofficial

Please support this event and raise as much money as we can to help Matthew and his Family.
For any information or to offer your support/wish to donate and play please email me:- andrew.lager@gresleyfc.com

More details to follow soon…… Again, Keep an eye out for possibly some very big celebrity names attending ……………… !

Many Thanks

Andrew Lager
Commercial/Community Director