My story

 I've got the begging bowl out again, and, once more, it's for my friend Matt Hampson. He was a highly promising rugby player who suffered a catastrophic neck injury in a training accident with the England Under-21 team, in March 2005.

Paralysed from the neck down, and unable to breathe without a ventilator, he spent over a year at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, before returning home, to a small village in the countryside near Oakham. He's refused to let his condition affect his appetite for life, and he's amazed and inspired everyone, with his courage, determination and cheerfulness. 


On top of running his own rugby memorabilia company, he's earnt his Grade 1 coaching badges, he's a busy rugby journalist, he's patron of the charity SpecialEffect, which helps severely handicapped children, and he's the Ambassador for this very charity, the RPA Benevolent Fund. He sees his high profile as the chance to raise awareness of spinal injuries, and he's committed  to helping  fund research, and to assist and advise other people with injuries similar to his own. 

On May the 22nd, rugby supporters from all over the country will set off from Rugby, in Warwickshire, en route for Twickenham, and the Guinness Premiership final, a week later. It's a repeat of last year's successful Walk4Matt, covering 105 miles, along the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. It'll also be doing its best to help the pub industry!

It's estimated that Matt needs a staggering eight million pounds to give him the level of care he needs, for the rest of his life. He requires two carers, 24 hours a day.

Money raised by the walk will be divided between Matt's own trust fund, SpecialEffect and this charity, the RPA Benevolent Fund.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

My gallery 2

My Teams

My company

My charity

Restart

Restart

Charity Registration No. 1113160

Restart (formerly known as The RPA Benevolent Fund) is the official charity of The Rugby Players Association. We provide financial, practical and emotional support to ill and injured players, during and after their professional rugby career.

Donations 32

windmill.png

Donation from Andy Ivy

Donation by Barney Burnham on 09/07/10

£10.00

windmill.png

Viel Glück

Donation by Bill Bingham on 21/06/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

windmill.png

As promised!

Donation by ChrisB on 17/06/10

£15.00

+ £4.23 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Well done

Donation by john summers on 16/06/10

£25.00

windmill.png

Fantastic effort well done everyone.

Donation by Anne Cipriani on 11/06/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Cash donations from Phil McGowan and Martin Eley, World Rugby Museum

Donation by Barney Burnham on 10/06/10

£30.00

windmill.png

Another long march, another great step forward!

Donation by Dom Benson on 01/06/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Hope it's all going well, Barney. Watch out for that sun though - I'm in bed with sunstroke!!

Donation by Peter Brown on 26/05/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Thanks for your kind and sincere comments re Bath! Arnie and I look forward to seeing you at The Rec next season, all the best for the walk Pete

Donation by peter dane on 21/05/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Good effort once again Barney - try a few different pubs on the route this time. All the best.

Donation by Kat Wright on 14/05/10

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Best of luck mate,see you on the 24th.

Donation by George Skivington on 13/05/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Adams Park collection

Donation by Barney Burnham on 11/05/10

£975.00

windmill.png

Barney - here's the £20 plus a bit extra from me.

Donation by Kevin Broadbent on 05/05/10

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

smiley-trio.png

Have fun!! Love Kevin and Maggie xx

Donation by Maggie Armstrong on 04/05/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

beer.png

Good luck Barney and thanks for your good wishes

Donation by Hugo on 02/05/10

£35.00

windmill.png

Donation by Graham Spencer on 30/04/10

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

windmill.png

As always fantastically generous and thoughtful Barney

Donation by Nicholas Cleobury on 29/04/10

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

windmill.png

All the best Barney - I'm sure you'll work up a considerable thirst which will no doubt be well quenched!

Donation by PETER BURNHAM on 28/04/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Bucket collection at Wasps A team game

Donation by Barney Burnham on 07/04/10

£103.00

windmill.png

Good luck Barney - hope the refreshments en route soothe the aching feet.

Donation by Paul Smith on 23/03/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Great cause Barney, all the best.

Donation by Ali Eykyn on 22/03/10

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Barney - we hope that you have a good chiropodist!! Keep up the excellent work.

Donation by John and Pamela Gibson on 15/03/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Good luck Barney! Great cause.

Donation by Sallie Marjoram on 14/03/10

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

windmill.png

Donation by Dick Curtis on 01/03/10

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

windmill.png

I hope that the weather is kind and that your feet will not blister ! See you on our bikes!

Donation by Keith and Beti-Lyn on 01/03/10

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$2,857.47
  • Offline donations$0.00
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$2,857.47
  • Gift Aid$305.73

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.