Friends of murdered Met officer go on charity walk

This weekend friends of a murdered Met Police officer and rugby coach will complete a 30-mile charity walk in his memory.

Sgt Matt Ratana was shot dead while on duty at a custody centre in Croydon, south London, on 25 September 2020. Louis De Zoysa, 26, was given a whole life term in jail for the murder.

The two day walk begins in Stroud on Friday and finishes in Cheltenham on Saturday, which would have been Sgt Ratana's 59th birthday. A charity rugby match on Sunday featuring former England internationals completes the fundraiser.

The money raised goes to The Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation which supports 800 children each week through rugby initiatives.

The ten people taking part in this weekend's walk will arrive in Gloucestershire from across the UK and include friends, colleagues and people who never met Sgt Ratana but have been inspired by his story since his death.

It is the third annual walk as part of the Kia mārō mā Matiu - The Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation's charity walking project which aims to link places that Sgt Ratana respected and loved while also bringing together communities.

The project name translates as "keep on being determined and resolute in the way Matt was" and is a nod to Sgt Ratana's Māori heritage.

Antony Weller volunteers at the foundation and is taking part this weekend.

His autistic son, Henry, was coached by Sgt Ratana at East Grinstead RFC, something Henry said "changed me from a young boy to a man" adding he thinks about his coach "day by day".

Mr Weller said Sgt Ratana's ability to "galvanize, encourage and enthuse anybody he came in contact with" was an "extraordinary ability".

Adding that he will be "forever grateful" for the positive influence Sgt Ratana had on his son.

New Zealand-born Sgt Ratana, had coached at East Grinstead Rugby Club for three years prior to his death.

In December 2020, he was awarded the Unsung Hero award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year following a nomination by the club.

In the same year The Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation launched and has raised over £500,000 to date.

The money is used to support 800 disadvantaged young people each week through school and community rugby initiatives both nationally and internationally.

The fundraising weekend finishes with a charity rugby match on Sunday at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium where the MND Barbarians will take on the Matt Ratana Marauders.

The MND Barbarians include players from the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Egg Chasers charities.

Dean Richards (Leicester Tigers, England and British & Irish Lions) will manage the Marauders with Mark Atkinson (Gloucester and England) will manage the MND Barbarians.

Several former England internationals and England Police internationals will take part in the match.