Writing a book is harder than running 75 marathons, says fundraiser Ray

But while the 81-year-old fundraiser and sporting ambassador has a busy couple of months ahead of him, he will be confined to his seat for one of his most important appointments.

On Friday, May 18 — just four days after this year’s Rotherham 10k – Ray will be discussing his memoir Path to Success at An Evening With Ray Matthews at the Rotherham Civic Theatre.

The book outlines Ray’s many dramatic exploits, including running the 75 marathons in 75 days for his 75th birthday and conquering the gruelling Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert.

The evening will be hosted by Rotherham Radio DJ Stewart Nicholson and include a Q&A session and appearances from special guests.

Ray had made headlines in the Advertiser long before he set himself the challenge to run 75 marathons in 75 days, raising £40,000 for Newman School in the process.

The former boxer and ongoing fitness fan puts his achievements down to his mental strength as much as his physical preparation, leaning on the adage that “vision without action is nothing more than a dream”.

Ray’s new book is his third, following his Me and My Shadow, his account of taking on a 100-mile desert run at age 70, and Who Dares, which relates how he completed three laps of the 50-mile Round Rotherham Run in one go!

He said: “The first two books were like trial runs but I feel this one is something a bit more special.

“My life has been about challenging myself to achieve and get to a point where there is nothing left you can do.

“Over the years, my challenges have all been self-inflicted so I have got to crawl over the finish line — that was always the limit.

“The book centres around what made me, from being a young lad starting boxing early, which set the standards for the rest of my life.

“The second landmark was the 75 marathons in 75 days as that launched me into another world of media attention.

“I realised that if used properly there could be a massive benefit there.”

These benefits include the popularity of the Run a Mile a Day scheme Ray has promoted widely in Rotherham schools and the foundation of the Rotherham 10k.

Ray said he was “really looking forward” to the Civic Theatre evening being co-hosted by Stewart adding: “We get on really well — we just bounce off each other naturally.”

Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley praised the inspiring runner’s “steely determination to push the boundaries of the human body while bettering the world”.

Ray admitted: “The writing of this book has been both challenging and mentally draining.”

“Having to sit still for hours at a time is just not me.

“Bringing this book to life was even harder and much more demanding than the physical challenge of running 75 marathons in 75 consecutive days, but the rewards are comparable when that finish line is finally crossed.”

Path to Success is out on May 28.

Tickets to An Evening With Ray Matthews at the Rotherham Civic Theatre are available from https://rotherhamtheatres.ticketsolve.com, on 01709 823621 or at  [email protected].