Goodwood: Content creator Alex Kersten gives surprise of a lifetime to 20-year-old car enthusiast diagnosed with terminal brain cancer - with big names Richard Hammond and Mike Brewer in attendance

Matt Pollard’s very own car show, branded ‘Mattwood’, took place on Sunday (August 14) and was attended by about 1,000 people all determined to give the 20-year-old a well-deserved, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Since his diagnosis this year, Matt has undergone two brain surgeries, learned to walk again and is taking chemotherapy tablets to slow the growth of the cancer.

On top of this, his mum, Lisa, was diagnosed with cancer herself and is now undergoing treatment, while Matt’s dad Andy drives to be by her bedside every day.

The idea for the event came about after Matt contacted content creator Alex Kersten to help him fix up a car as a ‘thank you’ to his dad for being the family’s rock during tough times.

Alex – who has a following of almost 400-thousand on YouTube – stepped in to help fix the Mk1 Mazda MX-5; however, moved by Matt’s story, he decided to take things a few steps further.

He said: “While Matt thinks we’re giving it a simple ‘tart up’, I’ve begged and borrowed approximately £10,000 worth of parts and labour to ensure that Matt and Andy’s MX-5 is almost unrecognisable.

"Because Matt mentioned he wanted to take the MX-5 to car shows with his dad, I also had an idea: why not invite Matt to his very own car show at the world-famous Goodwood Motor Circuit?”

The mammoth event - planned in just 12 days – caught the attention of huge names such as Richard Hammond and Mike Brewer, who unveiled the fixed-up car themselves.

On the morning of the event, Alex met Matt and his family outside Goodwood and drove them past ‘Mattwood’ banners, towards loved-ones and fellow car-enthusiasts, who gave Matt a ‘hero’s welcome of applause’.

Alex also arranged for a local tattoo artist, Leah from Black Pearl Tattoo Parlour, to attend as Matt had said previously that his current tattoos ‘would not be his last’.

The day was made complete as Matt and his dad were given the opportunity to drive around the motor circuit to test their car's new track credentials.

Alex said: "When I thought up the idea of a car show, never did I think it would snowball into an event that would, in Matt's own words, be ‘the best thing that's ever happened to me’.

“The smile on Matt's face as we drove side by side is an image I'll never forget.”

Every penny of ticket sales will go to the family to enable them to have experiences ‘they’d otherwise struggle with financially’.

Additionally, a JustGiving page, set up by Alex, has raised more than £30,000, including £4,000 raised at the event during a car auction.

Alex said: “Matt’s the most inspiring bloke I’ve met and he and his family deserve to see the goodness the car community has to offer.”

"I want to use this show to share Matt’s story and his ‘you’re owed nothing in life, so you can’t be sad’ mantra with as many people as possible, and also inspire people to help others, fundraise and see the bigger picture in life.”

To make a donation to Matt and his family, visit the JustGiving page.