Bond Bryan’s Matt Hayter with Emma Young, of Yorkshire Cancer Research

BUILDING surveyor Matt Hayter from Sheffield-based architects and building surveyors Bond Bryan has returned to the city after successfully completing the 2009 Marathon des Sables, known as ‘the toughest race on Earth', and raising £11,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To prepare for the 150-mile endurance race across the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco Matt shed eight stone in weight, going from 22 stone to 14 stone within a couple of years. He had to carry all his own equipment (food and water rations, medical equipment, sleeping bag, clothes and cooking equipment), over six daily stages varying from 10 to 50 miles, in temperatures of between a scorching 45°C to 5°C.

Bond Bryan sponsored Matt and today he presented a cheque for £11,000 to Emma Young, events manager from Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Yorkshire Cancer Research aims to raise £6 million each year to fund its vital research into the cause and cure of a variety of cancers, which will benefit future cancer patients from across Yorkshire and the world over.

Matt Hayter says: "This was a major project for me, which involved 2 years of training. The training was tough but the race was tougher!

"Bond Bryan have been incredibly supportive all the way through letting me take time off to train and to race, and we hope that this will inspire other practices and companies to follow in the same way."

Linsey Coulthard, communications officer at Yorkshire Cancer Research, says: "Yorkshire Cancer Research relies almost entirely on donations, which is why we appreciate companies such as Bond Bryan allowing Matt time off to take part in the grueling Marathon des Sables.

"The money raised will enable us to continue to fund internationally recognised research teams based at universities and teaching hospitals across Yorkshire."
In support of Matt, Bond Bryan ran a variety of other fund-raising activities for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

12 staff joined Matt in running this year's Sheffield Half marathon, and a ‘marathon' raffle with lots of prizes kindly donated by local Yorkshire personalities and companies was drawn at a Hero's Welcome party to celebrate Matt's achievement in the Sahara and the success of the campaign.

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