MEET THE AMBASSADOR – JACK VAN POORTVLIET
Our ambassadors play a key role in taking the Foundation’s message far and wide. So how did they become involved and how do they ‘get busy living’? Meet Leicester Tigers and England rugby international Jack van Poortvliet.
What was your introduction to Matt and his Foundation?
I grew up as a Leicester Tigers fan and I knew Matt’s story through my parents. They read his book and then I read it in my early teens so I always had an understanding of the story, of Matt and what he does. Then in the summer when I first started at the club as an 18-year-old, one of our conditioning coaches had a strong affiliation with the Foundation and brought us up to the Get Busy Living Centre to meet Hambo and give us an insight into his Foundation. That opened my eyes to it more.
How did you feel being selected as an Ambassador?
It is an honour. I know the Foundation wanted to get people on board from the Tigers and people who knew about the Centre and the work it does. I’m honoured to be officially involved with a place that I had seen at first hand do unbelievable things and to be able to support in any way.
How do you describe the Foundation to someone else?
The message I want to get across to other people is that the Centre is literally life-changing for people. We have seen it with our friend Taylor who became a beneficiary, seeing the opportunities, the new lease of life this place has given him. To see how many people it has had an influence on and the great people that are involved, that is life-changing.
What does ‘Get Busy Living’ mean to you?
To me it is about enjoying and making the most of the time I have. Whether that is social time, family time, career stuff, it is all about enjoying and making the most of it.
