Skydive, peaks, mud and ice - Rotherham doctor takes on five extreme challenges to support NHS charity
A dedicated Rotherham doctor is swapping scrubs for skydives, mountains and mud runs in 2025 as he takes on an epic year of fundraising for Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity.
Matthew Rigby, a Specialty Doctor in General Surgery at Rotherham Hospital, has pledged to complete all five of the charity’s flagship challenges in support of local NHS services - and he’s inviting the community to get behind him.
His incredible year of challenges includes:
- a 15,000ft skydive (completed on 26 April)
- conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks in under 12 hours (completed on 10 May)
- a gruelling 12k Total Warrior mud run (Completed on 21 June)
- the iconic Great North Run
- a freezing plunge into Manvers Lake in November
Half of the funds raised will go directly to the charity’s Dementia Appeal, which aims to raise £250,000 to enhance care and support for people living with dementia across The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. The remaining funds will support a wide range of other vital projects across the Trust’s hospital and community services.
Matthew said: “As someone who sees the impact of our NHS every day, I wanted to give something back in a big way. These challenges will push me physically and mentally, but knowing the money will help patients across Rotherham makes it all worth it.”
The charity supports The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust to go above and beyond. While the Trust receives core funding from the government, the charity is there to fund vital equipment, services and projects that go beyond the NHS budget to improve care and patient experience.
Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising at the charity said: “We have so much admiration for Matthew and everything he’s taking on to support his local NHS charity. Having the support of NHS staff, who work tirelessly to deliver incredible care to patient’s means the world to us. Matt sees first-hand how the charity impacts patient care and experience across the Trust, and for him to take on these five gruelling challenges shows his kindness and true dedication to his work.”
If you’d like to make a difference and take on a challenge, the charity have an exciting events calendar! From skydives to ice water plunges, there’s a challenge for everyone. Contact the charity on 01709 426821 or trft.rhcc@nhs.net to find out more.