Thank you Matt!

It is with sadness, but immense gratitude that we are announcing that after over two years with the Eight Foundation, Matt Riggs is to stand down as one of our Trustees.

Having been with us since our launched in September 2017, we couldn’t let him leave without marking the occasion with a little retrospective and so took him to one side for a little farewell chat.

We are so sorry to see you leave the Board of the Eight Foundation, Matt, but we understand that you are moving on to pastures new and wanted to ask you a few questions before you go.

Firstly, what has been your proudest achievement as Trustee of the Eight Foundation?

I think it has been the setting up of the charity as an independent organisation, establishing the structure in which it now operates and welcoming and supporting Victoria as Foundation Manager

Can you give us an example of an activity you personally helped manage?

Taking a team of eight on a cycling challenge from Vienna to Prague. We covered 340 kilometres and saw some beautiful sights – it was an amazing adventure.

Have you undertaken any personal fundraising challenges?

Loads. I took part in a boxing match, cycled 1000 miles in a month, and most recently completed the ‘Baffin and Back’ challenge. I was gutted that I am not standing down after conquering Baffin Island due to Coronavirus, but we adapted the challenge so we still raised over £5,000 which, in the current climate, I think is pretty impressive.

What is his favourite memory connected with the Eight Foundation?

I have two. One was telling a lad called Ben and his Mum that the Foundation was funding a specialised wheelchair he desperately wanted, and the other was handing out over 100 homeless essentials packs to those living on the streets of London. It’s things like that, were you can see the difference you are making right in front of you, that are truly humbling and will stay with me forever.

 What do you feel the Eight Foundation stands for?

For me, the Eight Foundation is based on the fundamental idea of giving something back to the community, and to smaller, independent and individual causes that might get overlooked because they don’t have the resources of big charities.  Putting a smile on a faces of a family or colleagues who work to help others is really fulfilling.  We are heading towards difficult times, lives are going to change and I think we all need to find ways to support each other.

We know that you are standing down as Trustee, but this isn’t goodbye, is it?

Of course not, I’ll still get involved in fundraising, but as life and its commitments change, I wanted to stand down and maybe leave the space for someone with new ideas to have a turn.  I have really enjoyed my time as Trustee, feel as if I gave it 100% and will still be supporting whenever I can.