A 38-year-old civil servant from Newport will be taking on the 2025 ABP Newport Marathon in a bid to prove that running is for everyone.

Dan Matthews has undergone three lung surgeries – but he hasn’t let that hold him back and he’ll now be taking on the mammoth challenge on Sunday 13 April.

When Dan was just 19 his lung collapsed while he was out driving.

He said: “It happened spontaneously. I was driving at the time – not doing anything physical. It was very painful, and I didn’t have a clue what was going on. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and was asked questions like if I was a smoker – but I’ve never smoked and always been fairly health conscious. It was a surprise.

“I had surgery to fix it and then the following year it happened again in the other lung, and I needed another round of surgery to repair it.

“The surgery and recovery were painful and I needed to take a step back from activities. Each time I needed to spend a week in hospital followed by a few weeks resting at home. It’s difficult to recover from lung surgery as you feel pain while breathing.”

Dan recovered to full health but in 2019 his lung collapsed for a third time – and he once again needed surgery to fix it.

Thankfully he hasn’t experienced any problems since.

Dan said: “My brother-in-law was doing the Newport Marathon when I was recovering, and it inspired me to take up running. I wanted to set myself the challenge to get my fitness back to where it was when I was younger and do it for my mental and physical health.”

Dan started taking part in Run 4 Wales events two years ago and he hasn’t looked back since. His next challenge will now be taking part in the ABP Newport Marathon on Sunday 13 April.

He added: “I want to show that running is for everyone – up until a few years ago would never catch me in a pair of running shoes running around the streets. Now I always try to go to every race.

“Until you become a runner you don’t realise what you’re missing. You’re putting yourself through discomfort for a reward and when you get in the zone it’s a form of meditation – it also gives you time to reflect.

“I’m a convert to running and I’d encourage everyone to give it a go.”

Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organisers Run 4 Wales, added: “It’s fantastic to hear that Dan has found a passion for running and enjoys taking part in our events. We’re so pleased that he is now doing well and we’re looking forward to welcoming him at the ABP Newport Marathon Festival in April.”