A Stepping Hill Hospital consultant has taken an epic bike ride taking in cathedrals across the country to promote both healthy living and Organ Donation Week.
Dr Matt Jackson is cycling over 2000 miles along a scenic route which will see him visit 42 Anglican Cathedrals on the route. Cycling 120 miles a day, the trip is taking three weeks which Matt is taking from his annual leave, with the third and final week Organ Donation Week (20th – 26th September).
Matt is an ICU consultant at Stepping Hill Hospital and a very keen cyclist. Over the past 18 months he has been working intensively with the sickest COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic. As well as promoting organ donation and the health benefits of cycling, he has embarked on the trip to mark his 40th birthday and to reflect and recharge from the experiences of the past year.
The route Matt is taken is a new one developed by cycling charities Cycle UK and Sustrans along with The Pilgrim Trust and Association of English Cathedrals .
This year Organ Donation Week is encouraging families to have conversations about donation, no matter what their age. Although the law around organ donation has changed to an opt-out system in many parts of the UK, your family will still be consulted if organ donation is a possibility. Even if you’re not sure if you want to donate, having that conversation might help you make up your mind. For more information visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk