Mat Britton remembering dad Tony and raising $52,000 for lung disease research during 250km walk

Trail to Triumph raises vital cash for the Lung Foundation and keeps the memory of a much-loved dad burning bright.

As the temperatures soared between Moranbah and Mackay, so did the fundraising total for Mat Britton and his team of runners.

It was the eighth time the Trail to Triumph was held to raise money for the Lung Foundation Australia, after Britton’s father Tony passed away from mesothelioma in 2014.

Britton said the sweltering heat was a difficult hurdle for many of the runners to overcome.

“The heat was up to about 39 degrees, and the ground temperature was over 60 degrees,” he said.

“Most people struggled quite a lot, six out of the 18 runners finished.

“When people don’t finish, I’m not disappointed in them, I’m disappointed for them, because everyone desperately wants to get through it.”

The Trail to Triumph is a three-day, 250km run from Moranbah to Mackay, with the event honouring a trip the father and son made countless times together before Tony’s death.

Britton said the charity event was the perfect way to honour his late father.

“When I grew up, dad and I used to drive to Mackay up to three times a week for soccer, and the other days we would run through the bush in Moranbah,” he said.

Mat Britton (right) ran in the Trail to Triumph, in honour of his late father, Tony (left), who died from asbestos cancer in 2014. Picture: Contributed

“Running with dad was something I found special with dad, that was our time, and those four hour return trips to Mackay was another great bonding time.”

After Tony’s passing in 2014, Mat and his father’s friends decided a run from Mackay to Moranbah would be the best way to honour his memory.

“Running back to Moranbah was like running dad home,” Britton said.

The Trail to Triumph, a run from Moranbah to Mackay in honour of Tony Britton. Picture: Contributed

“Just before dad died I promised I’d do something big for him, I sat down with a few of his mates to come up with some kind of idea.”

“The fundraising for the event has gone over $52,000, the goal was always to crack $50,000 and really excite the runners during the event.”

Donations can be made here.

The Trail to Triumph, a run from Moranbah to Mackay in honour of Tony Britton. Picture: Contributed