Meet Ravelin's Most Valuable Participant for December - Mat share's his story of strength, determination and hope.
We’re continuing our Ravelin MVPs series, celebrating the members who give our community its personality, warmth, and sense of purpose. Every story is a reminder that fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s shaped by life experiences, challenges, and the people who support us along the way. This month, we’re celebrating Mat - a member who has been on an inspiring journey of strength, determination and hope. His story of tackling adversity and having a strong mindset has got him where he is today.
Mathew was the picture of health and activity. A dedicated member of the Portsmouth Triathletes, he lived in Southsea and was always pushing himself to improve. During the winter months, Mat looked for additional training opportunities and was excited when he saw the Ravelin Sports Centre being built. Eager to take advantage of the new facilities, especially the pool, Mat became a member on 23rd December 2022.
From the very start, he embraced everything Ravelin had to offer, swimming regularly and attending classes like Studio Strength with instructor Lucy, and Float Fit, a class he enjoyed with Lucy and Eva. But Mat’s active lifestyle extended beyond the gym. He was also a long-standing member of the Eastney Cruising Association (ECA), where he took up rowing. It quickly became a passion.
In early May 2024, during a rowing race on the River Hamble, Mat felt unusually fatigued and disoriented after the race. His teammates noticed he was struggling, and upon getting him ashore, he collapsed to the ground, unable to move the left side of his body. A friend, who happened to be a nurse, quickly realised he was having a stroke.
Emergency services responded quickly, and Mat was rushed to Southampton Hospital, where scans revealed a blood clot on his brain. He underwent emergency surgery that same day. The operation was a success, but the road ahead would be long and challenging.
Post-surgery, Mat was unable to speak, walk, or eat on his own. He required a feeding tube and full-time care. Yet, even in those early days, Mat set himself a clear goal: to reach the rehabilitation stage and begin rebuilding his life.
By July 2024, Mat had made enough progress to be moved into rehab. There, he began learning the basics again, from sitting up and getting out of bed, to taking his first steps using a quad stick, then a walking stick. He also started speech therapy and worked hard in the hydrotherapy pool as part of his recovery. Every milestone was a major victory.
After months in hospital, Mat was discharged in August 2024. His home, a townhouse with several flights of stairs, was fitted with support equipment by occupational health so he could regain his independence. But Mat wasn’t done yet. He set himself another goal: to be the tail walker at the Southsea Parkrun. Just three weeks after returning home, Mat completed the 5km walk, an incredible achievement and a moment of triumph.
Determined to stay active and reclaim his previous lifestyle, Mat joined a local stroke support group and then made his way back to the place where it all started, Ravelin Sports Centre. Accompanied by a friend and his walking stick, he returned to the gym, met with fitness instructor Ben, and began working out twice a week using equipment like the hand bike and treadmill.
One of his biggest goals was to return to the yoga and Pilates classes he used to love. Though nervous at first, the instructors Emma, Alison, and Marci welcomed him warmly, and he now attends five days a week, enjoying a mix of Pilates, Aqua classes, and occasionally swimming. In fact, Mat recently swam a full length of front crawl a huge personal milestone.
In April 2025, Mat’s walking stick broke. Instead of replacing it, he made a bold decision: “I can walk without it.” His daughter dropped him off at Ravelin Park, and Mat walked through the park and into Ravelin Sports Centre unaided.
While at Ravelin, Mat visited South Coast Rx Physiotherapy, where he connected with Christian, a physiotherapist who by coincidence had been a stroke physio on the same ward at QA where Mat had started his rehab. With Christian’s help, Mat continued working on his hand strength and mobility over the summer.
But Mat didn’t stop there. He returned to his triathlon club for a coaching session and successfully jogged 500 meters. He also purchased a recumbent bike and went on a family ride in the New Forest. And in a truly heartwarming moment, Mat got back into a rowing boat at Langstone Harbour, the same sport he had been doing the day of his stroke.
Now 57 years old, Mat has turned what could have been a devastating event into a story of triumph. With his positive mindset, unwavering determination, and the support of family, friends, and the Ravelin community, he has proven that recovery is possible and that anything is achievable.
As his daughter begins University and his son celebrates passing his GCSEs, Mat continues to inspire everyone around him. His story is a reminder to appreciate life, surround yourself with positivity, and never stop moving forward.
Congratulations to Mathew on being our MVP!
Your journey is truly inspirational, and your resilience continues to motivate others. We are incredibly proud to have you back at Ravelin Sports Centre, working out, setting goals, and showing what determination can achieve. Welcome back, Mat, you’re a true example of strength and perseverance.
Be Ravelin Sports Centre's next MVP
If you’d like to share your own story, we’d love to hear from you! We're looking for the stories of our fantastic community of users who are working towards a goal, have battled adversity or have achieved something. It doesn't matter what it is, we want to hear from you.