(estimated 3 minute read time)
As a business, Hospitality Finder have always been committed to supporting charitable causes. From our work with Dallaglio RugbyWorks and Cure Parkinson’s to our involvement with Flackstock, giving back really is at the heart of what we do.
So, when we were approached to sponsor the Matt Hampson Foundation Rugby Dinner 2023 at Battersea Evolution, we jumped at the opportunity to support such a fantastic cause.
For those of you who aren’t aware of the Matt Hampson story, Matt was a promising Leicester Tigers prop who suffered a freak scrummaging injury back in 2005 whilst training for England U21. Having dislocated his neck and severed his spinal cord, Matt nearly died from his injuries and it was only after 18 months in Stoke Mandeville Hospital that Matt was well enough to be released.
Despite his injuries which left him paralysed from the neck down and require the permanent use of a ventilator, Matt set about his new vision in life and “got busy living”. He set up a trust and immediately started campaigning for awareness on spinal injuries and started fundraising, not only to help with his own rehabilitation but to help others who have suffered similar injuries to Matt.
In 2011 his trust received full charity status and today The Matt Hampson Foundation provides advice, support, relief and/or treatment for anyone suffering serious injury or disability which has arisen from any cause. In particular, the charity focuses on injuries sustained in or training for any sport, sporting activity or other form of physical education or recreation.
Hampson’s ultimate dream however was to create a dedicated physical rehabilitation centre for sufferers of serious injuries through sports-accidents, resulting in life-changing conditions with long-term effects including permanent disability, to help them to recover to the best of their abilities. In 2016, this dream became a reality when the foundations were laid for the ‘Get Busy Living’ Centre.
Officially opened in 2018, the centre provides a gym, exercise, physio, and physical rehabilitation space for people with life changing injuries like Matt’s. Not only that though, but there is also a social space for families to congregate, there are wheelchair accessible accommodation options and there are plans to build more of these centres both in England and potentially abroad.
To enable The Matt Hampson Foundation to achieve these objectives, events like the Rugby Dinner are paramount to raising funds and what a fantastic night was had by all who attended. We saw the magnificent Laura Wright sing live, we heard from current England coaches Steve Borthwick, Kevin Sinfield, Nick Evans and Richard Cockerill about the 6 Nations and with rugby legends like Martin Castrogiovanni, Rob Henderson and Mike Tindall in the room, the banter flowed as freely as the Champagne.
With over 1,000 guests in attendance, this was a memorable night at Battersea Evolution and we hope that the funds raised will help The Matt Hampson Foundation achieve their future objectives. We’re sure that with Matt at the helm and a great bunch of people in his team, the “Get Busy Living” campaign will only grow from strength to strength.
Should you wish to donate to this worthy cause, please follow this link >>> https://www.matthampsonfoundation.org/donate/
