Speedo run takes over Stalybridge in memory of Matthew Lofthouse

Matthew sadly passed away at 29-years-old, in October 2023, whilst sleeping.

Matthew was a photographer and journalist, who even appeared on the BBC Breakfast red sofa, and is being remembered by his friends and family who are raising money by taking to the streets of Stalybridge in only speedos.

Conner McParland is Matthews best friend and has helped to set up the latest speedo run in his honour: “We just want him to keep living in photos, in speedo run, in raising money in Matthew’s name. It’s so that he lives on and his work lives on.”

On Saturday the 19th of April, the run took place starting at Ultimate Fitness in Stalybridge.

Matthew was very into photography and even took a famous image of the Leicester City owner when they won the FA cup: “his work is always going to be remembered, so it’s only right that we keep his name out there in terms of raising money for charities too.”

Matthew described as a ‘gentle giant’ by his friends and family was also a part of Ashton rugby club.

He was known as ‘Lofty’ at the club and they described him as being ‘the kindest soul anyone could meet, he would do anything for anyone’.

Matthew at his job of a Clinical Photographer for the NHS.
Conner spoke on his and Matthew’s time at the rugby club: “he was actually a part of the first ever Ashton Rugby Club to win the vase cup.

“Me and Matt were both apart of the team at 16. We were the first ever under 18’s to win that cup. 

“Rugby was a massive part of Matthew’s life, every single weekend he’d be playing.”

Lofthouse was also a big advocate for Autism Awareness, having Asperger’s himself he had to work extra hard to be successful: “he was always the most driven person in the room, because he had to work twice as hard as anyone else just to get him name out there.

“In the 25 years of me knowing him, he was just a local legend. Everyone wanted to be Matty, everyone aspired to how loyal he was, how much of a nice person he was. Nobody ever had anything bad to say about him, and he achieved everything he wanted to achieve.”

Conner spoke about the struggles Matthew’s friends and family have faced since loosing Matthew: “when someone passes away and then a year passes by, two years passes by. You still wake up every day thinking, you can’t believe he’s gone, but the worlds moving on.

“That’s why we are doing it we want to get some more awareness out there about Matt and of the achievements that he got, he went on BBC breakfast show five months before he passed away talking about Aspergers awareness and how you can make it, you can get a degree with a disadvantage, how you can work with the general public, in hospitals, helping other people even if you do have autism.

“We just want to keep that going and tell everyone that they can do anything that they want.”

Friends and family out on the day sporting their speedos in memory of Matthew.
Last year over £7,500 was raised in Matthew’s name and split between the Autism awareness charity and the Albion Church in Ashton, both of which were very close to Matthew’s heart.

Conner is hoping to raise even more money this year for local charities, as well as Autism awareness charity and the Royal British Legion, since Matthew loved the armed forced and wanted to join the Navy himself.

A white-collar boxing match will also be held in Matthew’s name to celebrate his 31st birthday in May.

The money raised in tickets at the event as well as the money raised on the go fund me will then be split between the decided charities.

Donations can be made at: https://gofund.me/fcae651d