A couple from Penarth has been selected as finalists in the Stronger Together category at this year’s JustGiving Awards after cycling 1,400km to San Sebastian, Spain, in memory of their son.
Alex and Selena Matti, who are both 37 and now live in London, raised over £55,000 in memory of their son Otis, who passed away at six months old in May 2025. The touching journey took 23 days to complete, with the money raised going to Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice.
They created #LiveforOtis to honour their son’s life and help raise funds for two charities that supported them during their darkest hours. They documented the entire cycling trip on their YouTube channel @mattifam, where they also shared their fondest memories of their beautiful boy.
Alex said: “When Otis passed away we made a promise to him that we would live for him and make him proud, and our first step in doing that was our JustGiving mission and saying thank you to the two brilliant charities that helped make Otis’ final months so special.”
Selena added: “We chose San Sebastian in northern Spain because we’d visited there when Otis was in my belly, and we’d always planned to take him when he was around six months old. Instead, we took his ashes with us so that we could take him on the adventure and spread them when we got there.”
The couple are one of 20 finalists to be named as part of the JustGiving Awards this year, after over 18,000 nominations were made by the general public. To be nominated, entrants had to have used JustGiving to raise money for a charity or personal cause over the last 12 months.
The finalists were shortlisted by an internal judging panel from JustGiving, with four finalists for each of the five new categories chosen. Alongside the Team: Stronger Together, the other categories are Endurance: Mind over Miles, Kids: Rising Star, Influencer: Social for Good and Community: Championing the Cause.
Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said: “In 25 years, over £7 billion has been raised for good causes by millions of incredible fundraisers on JustGiving. The Awards is our way of shining a light on those extraordinary individuals whose courage, compassion and commitment inspire us all.
“With thousands of remarkable nominees this year, narrowing them down to just 20 finalists was no easy task. Among them, Alex and Selena’s story truly moved us. In the face of unimaginable loss, they selflessly channelled their grief into an inspiring challenge for two charities close to their hearts. With every mile they cycled, they carried Otis’ memory with them, turning heartbreak into hope and showing how even the hardest journeys can be filled with purpose.”
This year the awards coincide with JustGiving’s 25th anniversary. Instead of being recognised with a traditional award ceremony, JustGiving is now offering winners an immersive experience that they’ll remember forever.
The winners will be chosen by the public, with voting closing on Sunday 31 August.
To vote for the winners of this year’s JustGiving Awards visit: https://page.justgiving.com/justgiving-awards-vote
