An Evening With Matt Hampson - Tuesday 18th May

[www.matthampson.co.uk]

This event has been organised by the Wasps Walk4Matt team, thought I'd post on here to let the Tigers fans know.

Any requests for booking forms should be sent to this e-mail address - [email protected].

Ever since his catastrophic injury in March 2005 Matt Hampson has received support from around the rugby world, and few clubs have given more support than Wasps. During his long stay at nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospital, he received regular visits from Wasps players, coaches and supporters. Three years ago, a group of Wasps fans walked from Adams Park to Welford Road, raising around £17,000 for Matt’s Trust Fund. It was that walk which sowed the seeds for the Walk4Matt, which is now in its second year - this year representatives of all the Guinness Premiership clubs will be walking 110 miles along the Grand Union Canal, from Rugby to Twickenham, for the Premiership final.

As part of the fundraising, Adams Park is hosting "An Evening with Matt Hampson and Special Guests" on Tuesday 18th May, just four days before the walkers set off.

Matt will be talking about his rugby life, playing, coaching and writing, as well as giving his own views on the current state of the game. Joining him will be Leicester, England and Lions legend Dusty Hare, who was in charge of the Leicester Tigers Academy at the time of Matt’s accident, and former Wasp Damian Hopley CEO of the Rugby Players' Association. He’ll be bringing an insight into the problems of injuries in the professional game, as well as talking about Matt’s role as Ambassador for the RPA Benevolent Fund. Helping host the Q&A will be Roy Jackson, Tigers President when Matt was injured and tireless Chairman of the Matt Hampson Trust.

With a curry supper and a raffle on the night this promises to be an entertaining and informative evening, all in aid of a great cause and is priced at just £20 a ticket. The Walk4Matt2010 will be raising money for the RPA Benevolent Fund, for the charity SpecialEffect, which provides equipment for severely disabled children, and for Matt’s own Trust Fund.

This is another opportunity for Wasps fans to renew the tremendous support they’ve always shown for Matt, and for other injured players. Wasps and Leicester might be keen rivals on the pitch – but, off it, they combine to display the true spirit of rugby.

If you're interested in booking places for this evening please let me know and I'll forward you a booking form.

Hazel Nicholls
London Wasps Supporters Club