Bowel cancer survivor and local bottle shop manager Matt Duggan completed his 550-kilometre fundraising marathon mission from Cockle Creek to Stanley on Wednesday, May 14.
“What he has done is totally amazing – for Cancer Council Tasmania and to raise the issue of bowel cancer in younger Tasmanians,” Cancer Council CEO Alison Lai said.
Matt was diagnosed with Stage 3 bowel cancer at the age of 36 in April 2024.
After surgery and 12 rounds of chemotherapy, Matt was given the all-clear to resume his normal life in February this year.
Matt decided to raise funds and awareness about bowel cancer by completing the equivalent of a marathon every day for 12 days (representing each round of chemotherapy he had), starting in Cockle Creek on May 3 and finishing in Stanley last week.
Matt started off with a modest fundraising goal of $20,000 but ended up raising over $110,000 towards Cancer Council.
He is the manager of the Kingston, Blackmans Bay and Huonville Cellarbrations stores, who threw their support behind Matt, setting up donation tins and some of the workers also joined Matt’s side to run sections of the marathon mission.
