Brain Injury Survivor to Add to His 75 Medals at Nottingham 10K

When Matt Burke went to work one morning in 2012, he had no idea his life was about to change forever.

While working as a scaffolder, a ladder unexpectedly gave way. Matt fell five feet, hitting his head on a concrete floor. He suffered a bleed on the brain and underwent a five‑hour emergency operation. The injury was so severe that he had to relearn everything – including how to walk.

“I went from being a scaffolder living a normal life to having to learn how to do every activity all over again,” Matt said.

On top of this enormous challenge, Matt also developed short‑term memory loss, something he continues to manage today. Despite this, he considers himself fortunate to be alive given the bleak prognosis doctors delivered at the time.

Throughout his recovery, Matt’s biggest source of motivation was his dad. He vividly remembers a moment in hospital when his dad said, ‘I can’t believe you’re 28 and I’m 54 and you’re using a zimmer frame before me.’ The comment stuck with him – and fuelled his determination to work as hard as possible to reclaim the life he once had.

Since then, Matt has gone on to achieve more than he ever imagined. In 2014, still adapting to life after his injury, he completed the Hull 10k in a sports wheelchair to raise funds for the wheelchair basketball team he had joined. Just one year later, he returned to the same event – this time, on his feet and running.

Thirteen years on, Matt has collected an extraordinary 75 medals from 10ks, half marathons, a marathon and obstacle events. And he’s not slowing down. With nine events already lined up for this year – including the Nottingham 10k on 8 March – Matt says he’s driven by the desire to keep pushing his limits.

‘I try to push myself year after year,’ he said.

‘I do these events not only for me, but to show people that if you have great support around you – and they believe in you – you can achieve anything you put your mind to,’