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Telethon funds universal meningococcal vaccine

Matt Burton’s Time Trial for Telethon

We're counting down to this year's Telethon broadcast that'll be live across WA from 8pm on Saturday.

Part of the millions raised from previous years is right now funding a universal vaccine to protect Australian children meningococcal disease. World first clinical trials begin next month.

Meningococcal disease has taken so much from little Robbie Buchan, but not his spirit. Now 6 years old, we have struck down by the deadly disease just after his first birthday. It ravaged his limbs so badly, they had to be amputated. He was very lucky to even survive.

But now, new, groundbreaking research funded by Telethon is paving the way to stop meningococcal in its tracks.

Healthy Strides for Telethon

Champion Triathlete Matt Burton cycled from Busselton to Perth on Sunday 18th October to raise funds for Telethon.

This ride was on the back of Matt winning the WA State Long Course Triathlon Championships on Saturday 17th October. Matt has won this race for three years in a row.

Matt's results were exceptional as he beat Olympian Ryan Baillie by 15 minutes, and was a minute shy of the course record.

Matt is aiming to raise $100,000 for Telethon. A cause close to his heart.

Matt said “Supporting a West Australian community charity is close to every West Australian. In some way we are directly or indirectly impacted by the support Telethon has offered to the community for years so it’s just an opportunity to give a very small part back.

“Awareness is not gathered by the number of kilometres I ride but by the way in which the effort resonates amongst the community. What I am doing is not near the effort many young West Australians are faced with in the early stages of their life, but it is an effort to show that the wider community care.

“Giving money to telethon is what generates activity but raising awareness is what creates legacy, a legacy I am proud to be part of.

“More personally, the Children’s hospital (then PMH) assisted me with support throughout my childhood so now I am using the channels I can (sport) to show support in return.”

Born and bred in Perth, and growing up in Swan View, Matt spend most of his youth focussing on AFL and cricket. Triathlon was a late introduction yet a heavily motivated change once discovering the multi-discipline approach.

For Matt, the passion for a Triathlon career began in 2009 at the age of 20.
Between 2009 and 2012 he raced as an Age-Group athlete predominately in long course/Ironman distance events. These include Half Distance (Swim 1.9km, Cycle 90km Run 21.1km) and Full Distance (swim 3.8km, Cycle 180km, Run 42.2km)

2011 and 2012 mark memorable periods. Matt won Age Group (18-24) Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, arguably to most contended Ironman race in the world.
Since 2013, dedication and success has continued, he attained Professional Triathlon Australia, Ironman and Challenge branded licenses. Since attaining a professional license and qualifying for Kona as a professional in Busselton 2019, Matt's goals have been amplified and will continue to with focus firmly set on winning Kona and becoming World Champion.

Matt's Ironman Personal Best of 7 hours 55 minutes (Ironman WA 2019) and a Half Distance PB of 3 hours 42 minutes (Challenge Malaysia 2018) are some of the fastest times recorded in history let alone for a West Aussie.

Something a little more remarkable about Matt is that he is self-coached, something which is unprecedented in the long distance triathlon community, let alone at the elite level.