Mat’s Story – By his Mum

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This is the story of an inspirational and amazing young man with a zest for life beyond recognition. Mat Davis had a heart-warming smile and a presence so huge that it could light up any room. He was bright, bubbly, lively and determined, yet thoughtful, caring, generous to a fault and always considering everybody else’s needs before his own.

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Sadly Mat’s life was turned upside down when he was served some devastating news in 2009.  At the age of just 20, after suffering a series of seizures, Mat was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous Grade 2 Brain Tumor but that did not stop him.

“Mat never stopped living, laughing and loving!”

Mat was the most fun-loving and carefree human being you could ever meet. If anyone met Mat in passing no one would ever have guessed that from the age of 20 he had been diagnosed with inoperable brain tumors. Mat NEVER stopped living, laughing and loving!

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During the following couple of years, Mat underwent several operations, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, in an attempt to keep the tumors “under control”.  This did not undermine his zest for life. He was forever the optimist, had no fear, and was a fighter to the end. He never asked “why me” but always “why not me” and was still giving in more ways than one but not giving up himself. Even in his professional life he worked as a support worker, helping people with learning disabilities which meant the world to him. He was such a natural and had a real connection with the people he supported. He always put them at the center of everything he did.  Mat often went that extra mile without expecting anything in return and ALWAYS with a smile on his face!

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In the face of adversity he chose to raise both awareness and money for Cancer Research.  He arranged a Bingo night, 70/80’s disco nights, auction nights, had his legs waxed and very courageously attempted to cycle from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. Unfortunately he came off his bike in Manchester after suffering a seizure and as a result he ended up in hospital and couldn’t finish his journey.  Even though he didn’t manage to finish what he started, Mat still raised just over £12,000

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A Few Words From John Mumford 

 

I knew Mat as a junior player from Aylesford School & had the pleasure of coaching him for a short while when he was a player for Aylesford juniors many years ago also in that team I coached was the Warwick Grizzlies team secretary Jason Aldred who was friend of Mat, we send our thanks to the Mat Davis Foundation for their generous sponsorship. I am sure we will be hearing a lot more in the future about the sponsorship