Well we've signed up!!
So inspired have I been by being involved in last year's walk4matt with the Witney Angels and getting to know the wonderful work of my local charity SpecialEffect and meeting Matt Hampson that Simon and I have taken the plunge and have decided to take part! I will be walking the 110 miles from Rugby to Twickenham and Simon will be doing it in his canoe! I will be representing the wonderful Witney Angels and Witney RFC in this amazing adventure and would so appreciate your support.
A key reason for putting myself through the pain of the walk is to support SpecialEffect who are helping a friend of mine. Gemma, a local girl living at a Cheshire Home in Banbury, finds it very difficult to control any part of her body other than her eyes. She has just begun to benefit from the loan and support of a gaze-controlled computer by the charity. Using this, she will be able to communicate and control technology like a television independently for the first time since her accident. Once the loan period is finished, Gemma and those supporting her will be in a position to decide whether or not to seek funding for a gaze controlled computer of her own. The charity will have been a huge help in supporting them in coming to that decision.
Matt as many of you know 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. 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 disabled children, and he's the Ambassador for 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.
SpecialEffect of which Matt is Patron is a great little charity who as you can see above are actually helping a friend of mine with their amazing technology and support. It seeks to transform lives for young people with disabilities via ground breaking technology. Check out the short music video below featuring Matt to show you the transformational difference that your donations or even better participation in Walk4Matt can have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3UT79TLwBU
Please DO visit www.walk4matt.org to read all about it and see messages from the likes of Danny Cipriani and Shaun Edwards!
Thank you for your donation!
Elaine
