Supporting the Matt Hampson Foundation
We are very pleased to have been able to support the very worthy Matt Hampson Foundation by donating 30 Biston Bags — an ergonomically designed wheelchair handling bag which helps to reduce the load and bulk of the wheelchair when being moved from one place to another, like in and out of a car boot (download factsheet).
Matthew “Hambo” Hampson (born 29 November 1984) is a former English rugby union prop who became quadriplegic after a scrummaging practice accident for England under 21’s.
Matt took up rugby as a 5-year old for Oakham, joining Syston RFC when he was 12. He joined Leicester Tigers academy at the under 16 age group and was made an apprentice for the 2001/2 season. He was regarded as a promising prop and although he had not made his Leicester debut he had been an unused bench replacement. He had played both for Bedford Blues and Nuneaton R.F.C. while on loan. He had also played for England U18 and England U21.
Matt’s accident happened on Tuesday 15 March 2005 at Franklin’s Gardens, when the England U21 team were preparing for an under 21 Six Nations match against Scotland. In what he described as a freak accident, a scrum collapsed and Matt suffered a dislocation in his neck which had trapped his spinal cord and has left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Matt Hampson is now known all over the country as the inspirational figure who has given hope to people going through a rough period in their lives, ‘the guy who got injured but wouldn’t take it lying down’.
His charity, Matt Hampson Foundation, was formed in 2011 to provide advice, support, relief and/or treatment for anyone suffering serious injury or disability which has arisen from any cause, but in particular from participation in or training for any sport, sporting activity or other form of physical education or recreation. Through Matt Hampson, the foundation is also able to offer mentoring, friendship and education. Very often a chat with somebody such as Matt who has been through it, ‘got the t-shirt’ and overcome many issues himself is the best assistance that injured personnel can get.
We hope that our donation of the Biston Bags will help the Matt Hampson Foundation to help others. If you would like to find out more about the foundation or enquiry about the Biston Bags please check their website at http://www.matthampson.co.uk.
