Mj Hill

Matthew has always spent much of his spare time helping others. He has been a volunteer first aider at many events with the Red Cross as well as volunteering with other charities such as both Oxford & Cornwall Associations for the Blind, and many different childrens' charities.

In 2001 he became a mentor for young people who struggled in school. He followed this by becoming a leader with Riding for the Disabled and then, in 2009, he took a part time role as a mental health youth worker.

In 2008 Matthew co-founded a not-for-profit company called Mentors DEN CIC (MD). Since then MD has helped more than 80 disabled and disadvantaged people set up and run their own business. Matthew has never been paid for this work, in fact he has been one of the major funders of Mentors DEN CIC since it began.

In 2009 Matthew was hospitalised after a routine operation went wrong leaving him disabled and very sick with meningitis. Despite this Matthew continued to help run MD from his sick bed helping others to achieve their own dreams.

Matthew's disability has meant that he is no longer able to work in roles he used to but he continues to put the benefit of others ahead of his own. He has continued with MD and volunteers as a youth mentor with the Air Cadets.

Previous to his disability he was a very keen athlete and had competed nationally at fencing and Modern Pentathlon. He remains a huge fan of both these sports at the Olympics and it was always a dream of his to carry the Olympic Torch.