BEN PEARSON

When Ben experienced life-changing injury, he could never have imagined that the next stage of his journey would involve the Commonwealth Games and being cast in statue form.

Ben broke two bones in his leg playing rugby, but recovery was not straight-forward and, after numerous operations and countless infections, the leg had to be amputated.

“I lost my right leg below the knee and had to learn to walk and run again, which was a huge struggle,” he says.

The Foundation helped Ben to secure a place at Loughborough University, allowing him to focus his energies on the future and on what he could do, not what he couldn’t. He joined the para-athletics team there and was immortalised in a statue outside Birmingham New Street Station as part of the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games.

“If you were asked to explain the Matt Hampson Foundation to others, it’s easy,” he says. “It’s the most inspirational, fun and amazing place.”