Run With George
881. George Mathias
George Mathias, aged 11, from Merseyside, has raised over £55,000 in support of ‘Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’ in Liverpool.
When his younger brother James went into a coma on the day he was born and was saved by the treatment he received at ‘Alder Hey’, George decided to undertake sponsored runs in aid of the charity through his ‘Run With George’ campaign. George’s efforts have inspired thousands of people to participate in his running challenge, including celebrities and leading sports figures such as Sir Chris Hoy, Rebecca Adlington, and Steven Gerrard. His fundraising for his first 100 miles has provided new facilities for premature babies in Alder Hey’s Special Care Baby Unit. George was awarded a 2017 ‘Pride of Britain’ award and is continuing to keep up his running challenge to raise further support for ‘Alder Hey’.
George received his award in a presentation at the Liverpool FC Foundation, where he first started his sponsored runs.
In a personal letter to George, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Your ‘Run With George’ campaign for ‘Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’ is a remarkable achievement, and I was delighted to have met you at Downing Street last year. You should be enormously proud of the transformational impact your fundraising is having on young children in need of specialist hospital treatment, and for inspiring thousands of people to support your vital cause.”
George said:
“I am so honoured to receive this award from the Prime Minister. I really enjoy raising money and trying to inspire other people to take up running, so to receive this award is more than I could have dreamt of. I would like to say thank you so much to the Prime Minister for choosing me for this amazing award, and she is always welcome to join me on a run!”
George also recorded a message:
George set up @RunWithGeorgeUK to say thank you to @AlderHey for saving his little brother James’ life, and so far he’s raised over £55, 000. He had a message for all of his supporters after receiving his Point of Light Award this evening… pic.twitter.com/65KEff27xg
— LFC Foundation (@LFCFoundation) January 10, 2018
So happy to receive my “Points of Light” Award from the Prime Minister tonight for outstanding volunteering. Such a nice letter from Mrs May. Great to receive it from @LFCFoundation and thanks for the fantastic shirt!! #runwithgeorge pic.twitter.com/mJQVGzuXYB
— George Mathias (@RunWithGeorgeUK) January 10, 2018
Tonight we presented George Mathias with a very special Point of Light Award from the Prime Minister, in recognition of his incredible fundraising for @RunWithGeorgeUK in aid of @AlderHey
An amazing achievement – well done George! pic.twitter.com/nWLfL0qL14
— LFC Foundation (@LFCFoundation) January 10, 2018