WORLD CANCER DAY
On the run for Matt
Following the death of Met Police Sergeant Matt Ratana in September 2020, a friend and colleague decided to do something to keep his memory alive and support to Matt’s partner, Su
PS Paul Hollis, who worked alongside PS Matt Ratana in Lewisham custody, created the Ratana 10K shortly after the death of his friend. “As a keen runner – and the irony is not lost on me that Matt was not a keen runner – I decided to organise a virtual event, The Ratana 10K,” Paul explained. “I originally thought this would create an interest of around 300 runners and the planning began.” He created flyers advertising the virtual event and before long, 2,950 people had entered, all committing to running, walking or even cycling 10 kilometres in memory of Matt. Paul
himself ran 10 kilometres every day for 21 days in a row, which was not easy given his 12-hour custody shifts. “The Ratana 10K was not about getting personal bests or competing to see who could do it the quickest,” said Paul. “It was all about people coming out in support of Matt and boy, did that happen. It was wonderful.”
With the support of colleagues,
shirts and medals were dispatched to all participants and £40,000 was raised to be split between Su and the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation, which was set up to deliver initiatives supporting community and school rugby nationally and internationally. Social media was flooded with photos and videos of people
undertaking the Ratana 10K, and it was so popular that Paul was asked to make it an annual event. The event has now been run twice, once in winter 2020 and once in spring 2021. In 2021, more than 3,000 people took part through walking, running, rowing and swimming 10 kilometres in April. The combined total of the money raised from both years hit more than £99,000.
“The Ratana 10k was not about getting personal bests, it was about people coming out in support of Matt and, boy, did that happen”
Some familiar faces joined the event, with support from actor James Nesbitt and athletes, such as the Brownlee brothers, Dame
Kelly Holmes and the Red Roses, England’s women’s rugby team. Entries open for the 2022 Ratana 10k on 1 February, and the event will run throughout the month of March. Paul is encouraging everyone to get involved if they can, undertaking the Ratana 10K in any way that works for them. This year’s medal is based on the silhouette created for Matt at East Grinsted Rugby Club, where he coached so many players.
To join this year’s event, visit
www.ratana10k.com You can donate to the Just Giving page:
www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/ratana10k-2022
39 | POLICE | FEBRUARY 2022 The England Roses Kelly Holmes James Nesbitt
Paul Hollis The Brownlee brothers
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