GET BUSY LIVING ON TOUR WITH LIONS
Selection as an Official Charity Partner of the British and Irish Lions has provided the Matt Hampson Foundation with an “amazing platform” to raise awareness and make new connections.
The Foundation, which provides physical and emotional support at its Get Busy Living Centre in Leicestershire and regional hubs for young people following life-changing injury in sport via, joined the Lions in Dublin and in Australia this summer and took the opportunity to visit other charities as well as sharing in matchdays.
Reflecting on a “memorable and inspiring trip”, Foundation chief executive Tommy Cawston said: “We are all so proud that the Matt Hampson Foundation was one of the chosen charities and to be invited on the Guest programme and represent Matt has been a huge honour.”
Matt himself attended the opening fixture against Argentina in Dublin and then Tommy was joined by chairman Adam Walker, trustee Martin Hill, team member Geordan Murphy, and beneficiaries Kylie Grimes and Taylor Gough during the trip to Australia.
Long-time supporter and new ambassador Ben Mosley also made the trip as official artist, creating works to celebrate the tour and also to raise funds while Lions squad member Ben White, another long-time friend, was announced as an ambassador during the tour.
Friends across the world
The Foundation team visited facilities including Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre, Sporting Wheelies, the Sargood Foundation and The Next Step, many in the company of Lions representatives, while also developing links with organisations including Empower Golf Australia, Hearts In Rugby Union and fellow Lions charity partners Wooden Spoon, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Looseheadz.
They also made a visual impact by distributing Matt Hampson promotional scrum caps in the Lions Den fanzones at all three Test matches against Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Closer to home, the Foundation created a dedicated page on its website for the Lions partnership, created a series of blogs and photo galleries to update supporters on activities there and organised an fundraising auction online of incredible memorabilia from this and previous tours.
“To chief executive Ben Calveley and everyone at the British and Irish Lions, thank you for believing in the work we do and giving us this amazing platform to spread the word and make connections on the other side of the world,” said Tommy.
“To the amazing rehabilitation facilities Spinal Life Australia and Sargood Foundation that welcomed us with such warmth, you are all doing such inspiring work and I’ve learnt so much from my time spent with you. I hope you know there is a warm welcome at the Get Busy Living Centre at any time!
“To the other charities on the tour, I’m looking forward to exploring how we can work together in the future.”
