SNAPSHOT OF A LANDMARK YEAR IN THE FOUNDATION STORY
We knew 2025 was going to be big as we marked 20 years since the moment which changed Matt Hampson’s life and its impact on others forever. But you can see just how big with our review of a year in the life of the Matt Hampson Foundation!
Around 30 new beneficiaries joined the Foundation Family in the year, adding their own personalities to our community and finding ways to ‘get busy living’ after injury, and we welcomed many more supporters who all help us to support others.
Click here for our Photo Gallery of 2025
We’ve enjoyed competition in sports as diverse as motor-racing, shooting, canoeing, climbing, golf, triathlon, frame-running and wheelchair racing, and there have been weddings, births, overseas adventures, studies, new jobs and promotions, the launch of businesses, house moves and all manner of personal achievements on each beneficiary journey. It has been a pleasure for the team to share in them all.
Just some of the highlights from 2025
- New satellite hubs in Essex and London to take support even further.
- Planning permission granted to extend facilities at the Get Busy Living Centre to allow us to support even more beneficiaries.
- Selection as an Official Charity Partner of the British & Irish Lions which allowed the Get Busy Living Centre to host a Lions day, Matt’s visit to Dublin for the squad’s first game and Foundation representation on the tour to Australia to raise awareness, visit connected charities and make friends in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
- Matt receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his inspirational work.
- Roy Jackson becoming Honorary Life President in recognition of 20 years’ work with Matt, and long-time supporter Adam Walker announced as the new Chairman.
- Launch of the Get Busy Living Club – with membership just £10 a month – to support work with beneficiaries and their families.
- The team from northern hub Gym Possible setting a world record at the Great North Run.
- A Foundation appeal on BBC Radio 4 presented by Matt.
- Support from beneficiaries, staff, family and friends at major events including the London Marathon, London Landmarks Half-Marathon, The Big Half, Great North Run and London Vitality 10K.
- Launch of our Accessible Gyms campaign and a sold-out opening seminar for gym owners and trainers.
- Visits to the Get Busy Living Centre by Dame Denise Lewis, president of UK Athletics, and sporting legends Sir AP McCoy and Martin Castrogiovanni.
- Massive support from Foundation patron Mike Tindall including his golf classic at The Belfry, a shooting day at The Royal Berkshire and Mikey’s Mountain Miles in Austria.
- Ben Mosley, official artist to Team GB and the Lions, and rugby international Ben White joining the Foundation as ambassadors.
- Selection as charity of the year by the Britcar Championship and sharing raceday at Donington Park when beneficiary Noah was named Driver of the Day.
- Beneficiaries Drew and Graham being subject of documentaries and BBC devoting an entire East Midlands Today programme to Matt and the Foundation, broadcast live from the Centre and then used nationally on BBC Breakfast.
- Sporting success including Taylor’s medal in the European Paracanoe Championships, Dan’s seven shooting titles and our competitors who made the Foundation the best-represented team in a global adaptive fitness event where Sophie collected a medal for a second successive year.
- A huge number of individual examples of beneficiaries who ‘get busy living’ at home, at work, in sport and in their rehab following injury.
- And not forgetting a Beano! appearance for Matt and Foundation patron Mike Tindall in a special edition of the 80-year-old comic.
Selection of supporting events in 2025
- The Meet Your Mountain Challenge in the French Alps and return of the Summer Ball at Marston Trussell.
- Our annual international rugby dinner with 1,200 guests at Evolution, London.
- The second annual Hambo Throwdown, hosted at Loughborough University, bringing together wheelchair athletes of all standards for adaptive fitness competition.
- Our biggest Corporate Games days yet, with 150 participants.
- Lions Long Lunch in Birmingham and Lions-themed events organised by AXA XL, The Do Club and others, events with Under The Posts, a Dean Richards Dinner at the Cavalry & Guards Club, Belton Park Golf Day, Oakham School’s sponsored walk and cycle, the teachers who took on a Northern Ireland coastal swim and the Melton Round Table fundraiser to name just a few.
- Beneficiary David organising events including the Barmouth to Yarmouth cycling challenge and a music festival in support of the MND programme.
- A 24-hour rowing marathon at the Get Busy Living Centre.
- Support from the Festival of Sport in showcasing inclusive sport and exercise at their new home at Packington Estate. See you again next summer!
- Organisers, acts and music lovers at Hamplified hosted by Rugby St Andrews Rugby Club, the ‘Maul Together’ group from Bridgnorth RFC who cycled to the Get Busy Living Centre, young players at Windsor RFC who carried the Foundation logo on their shirts, Oakham RFC who walked to Leicester Tigers, and BodyByBrzoski who won the Collegiate New York Sevens Cup with our logo on their shorts.
- Fundraising endurance challenges including trustee Julian Evans and long-time supporters Greg and Elliot Collins attempting to row across the Atlantic, and George Bacon who cycled solo across Europe.
- And a huge thank-you to EVERYONE who organised an event or took part in one, EVERYONE who made a donation, offered sponsorship, purchased merchandise or auction items, or got involved in any way to help our beneficiaries. We cannot do it without you. Here’s to an even more incredible 2026!
