# Rugby stars back charity walk

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/05/07/rugby-stars-back-charity-walk/
- Published: 2009-05-07T15:16:22+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

SPORT Walk, 06 May 2009 – 16:50

 

England’s Rugby World Cup winning captain, Martin Johnson, has thrown his weight
behind a charity walk to raise money for young people with disabilities.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

 

Martin, now England team manager, is one of a host of rugby legends to back the 
Walk4Matt, a 120 mile walk along the Grand Union canal between Rugby and the Guinness
Premiership final at Twickenham, to raise funds for good causes including SpecialEffect,
an Oxfordshire charity dedicated to helping young, disabled people enjoy computer
games. The walk will also support the Matt Hampson Trust and charities chosen by
the 12 premiership clubs.

 

The walk, which will begin at Clifton Lock in Rugby on May 8 at 8 AM, is the brainchild
of SpecialEffect’s patron Matt Hampson, who was paralysed while training for the
England Under 21 rugby team.

 

The event, supported by all 12 Guinness Premiership teams, aims to raise funds for
the world’s first fully accessible computer games suite at the Helen and Douglas
House Hospice, the centrepiece of which will be a £60,000 eye control machine that
will give disabled youngsters the opportunity to play computer games using just 
their eyes.

 

Martin Johnson said: “On behalf of the whole England squad and staff, I am delighted
to offer our wholehearted support to the Matt Hampson Walk. Matt is an incredible
young man and his courage is a huge motivation to us all in the rugby world and 
beyond. “The issue of care for players who have sustained serious injury is one 
close to my heart, as well as everyone in the rugby family. I am sure the walk will
be a great success and I look forward to seeing everyone there.”

 

Leicester Tigers legend Dusty Hare, rugby’s world record points scorer, will be 
walking the whole route along canal towpaths from Rugby to the Guinness Premiership
Final. He said: “In my experience, one of the things that sets rugby apart is the
fact that players, supporters and officials see themselves as part of one big family.“
That is certainly the case when it comes to looking after those, like Matt, whose
career and life has been affected by serious injury.

 

“Walk4Matt is a fantastic event and it is great news that it has the support from
all of the Guinness Premiership clubs and so many people in the rugby world.”

 

Leicester Tigers head coach, Richard Cockerill, said: “Matt is such a courageous
and positive young guy that these events deserve great support.

 

“I hope as many rugby supporters as possible, from all the clubs, can do their bit
by either being sponsored to walk part of the route or by offering sponsorship to
others taking part.”

 

Stars including Bill Beaumont, Lawrence Dallaglio, Andy Goode and Harry Ellis, who
has recently been selected by the British Lions, have all pledged their support 
for the walk.

 

Matt Hampson said: “I am thrilled with the support the walk has received from all
across the Rugby family – players, coaches, Guinness Premiership clubs and the England
squad – especially in the Walk’s inaugural year.

 

“The money raised will make a real difference to young people with disabilities,
spinal cord research and other valuable causes from the Premiership clubs’ designated
charities. I am very much looking forward to the fun and banter with rugby fans 
on the walk and us all coming together on the pitch before the Guinness Premiership
Final.”

 

Nick Streeter, SpecialEffect fundraiser said: “SpecialEffect is fortunate to have
such an inspirational patron as Matt Hampson and we’d like to thank Matt, all the
rugby legends backing the event and the walkers and sponsors for this fantastic 
support of our work.”

 

Fundraising events will be taking part along the route and people can support the
walk by visiting www.walk4matt.org and www.justgiving.com/walk4matt.

 

end

 

—

SpecialEffect

The Old Bakery

Sheep Street

Charlbury

Oxfordshire

OX7 3RR

www.specialeffect.org.uk

www.walk4matt.org

www.justgiving.com/walk4matt

 

01608 810055

07837688804

 

Registered Charity No 1121004

 

 * **[Gladiators take on Hilton in the Community Foundation's Around the World in Day event.](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/05/18/gladiators-take-hilton-community-foundation039s-around-world-day-event/)**(
   18 May 2009)
 * **[World-renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber pledges support for Action Duchenne](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/05/21/worldrenowned-cellist-julian-lloyd-webber-pledges-support-action-duchenne/)**(
   21 May 2009)
 * **[Kylie Minogue’s performance for the Miracle Africa International Foundation](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/05/26/kylie-minogue039s-performance-miracle-africa-international-foundation/)**(
   26 May 2009)