A big-hearted football fan has embarked on an arduous 800 mile charity challenge to visit every Premier League club this month - and is set to drop by Arsenal vs Lyon on Sunday.

Inspirational Matthew Smith aims to raise funds for the If U Care Foundation, the suicide prevention charity he co-founded following the passing of his brother Daniel nearly two decades ago.

The 30-year-old’s efforts have already seen him run 30 miles per day this month - with the prospect of many hundreds more to come.

Matthew started his gruelling event on the south coast at Bournemouth last week, with the life-long Newcastle fan set to finish in his hometown on Friday, August 30. 

Matthew is fundraising as part of the If U Care Foundation’s Mission 135, with the courageous runner boosting the charity’s year-long campaign to raise vital funds and awareness for suicide prevention and bereavement support.

Matthew intends to raise £135,000 as part of Mission 135 after crucial suicide prevention funding came to an end, which has significantly affected the ability to support certain areas of the North East.

Hardy runner Matthew wrote on his TotalGiving page: “In order to continue our life-saving work, we need the support of local communities more than ever.

“Why £135,000? We haven't just plucked this figure out of thin air. The 135 refers to a study [that] every suicide affects, on average, 135 people.

“To put that into context, that would equate to roughly 761,670 people across England and Wales in 2022 who have been affected by suicide.

“It's for the 135. It's for every 1.”

After visiting Arsenal at the Emirates Cup this Sunday, and the remaining number of top flight stadiums across August, Matthew will eventually end his run at his beloved St James’ Park.

Speaking to Mark Carruthers at the South Shields Gazette, brave Matthew is looking forward to finishing in his native North East: “I think for me personally, the significance and the association I have for it with Dan, my first ever game was with my Dad and Dan, for me, our community, our organisation and family, and by that I mean the If U Care Share family, to be able to bring this back to the North East is so special.”

If would you like to donate to such an important cause, click here

If you would like to welcome courageous Matthew to the Arsenal this weekend, please feel free to tweet @ifucareshareon Twitter and Instagram

Inspirational Matthew's gruelling Premier League charity run set to visit Arsenal vs Lyon on Sunday Matthew Smith is running to every Premier League club this month to raise money for suicide prevention charity If U Care Foundation @ifucareshare https://t.co/DqRMXJk4MR

— Layth (@laythy29) August 8, 2024