Walk4Matt, which supports the work of the Matt Hampson Foundatio, starts in Rugby, the birthplace of the sport, on Saturday, May 18. It follows the 110-mile route along the towpaths of the Grand Union Canal, finishing at Twickenham on Saturday, May 25 for the showpiece end to the season.
Tigers supporters are being given the chance to crew one of the fleet of narrow boats for the week taking on roles such as skipper and lockhand. They are set to be joined by fans’ favourites Craig Newby and Boris Stankovich on some of the walk while Tigers legends including Harry Ellis and Freddie Tuilagi are also set to drop in.
Tigers fans can also get involved by taking part in two day-long walks on the opening weekend. The first is on Saturday, May 18 from the Old Royal Oak pub in Rugby to the Heart of England pub in Weedon, Northamptonshire and the second is on Sunday, May 19, starting in Weedon and finishing at the Navigation at Cosgrove near Milton Keynes.
“Everybody who joins in has a great time,” says Roy Jackson, chairman of the Matt Hampson Foundation and a Tigers director. “We have some walkers who will be there for the full distance and live on our narrowboats for the week, then there are others who come down, drop in for a day or two.
“Whether people join us for one day, the whole week or for the evening events, the camaraderie is fantastic and underlines just what the rugby family and the Tigers family is all about.
In previous years Tigers legends such as Martin Johnson, Graham Rowntree and Dusty Hare have joined in the walk and there are sure to be more famous names getting involved for the 2013 event.
For route information and details of how you can get involved in Walk4Matt, including how you can crew one of the boats, email [email protected] or [email protected] And you can see some of the great work undertaken by the Matt Hampson Foundation by clicking here
Walk4Matt is one event in a busy programme of events in aid of the Matt Hampson Foundation over the next few months.
Welford Road will stage a clash between Louis Deacon’s Tigers Legends and Matt Hampson’s International Legends on Sunday, April 21 (3pm kick-off). A host of famous Tigers have been confirmed including Johnson, Richard Cockerill and Darren Garforth while Matt’s team will be captained by World Cup winner Jason Robinson and includes Serge Betsen, Craig Chalmers and Henry Paul. Click here for details
The chance to be the mascot for Matt’s Legends team is being sold at Raise4Matt, an auction in Moorgate, London on Thursday, March 21 in aid of the Matt Hampson Foundation. The lot also includes a box at Welford Road for the day which the winning bidder can share with family, friends or clients.
Other lots include an original, fully signed 2003 World Cup-winning jersey, a signed canvas of Martin Johnson lifting the Webb Ellis Cup and a signed Tigers shirt.
Tickets to the auction, which Matt will attend, are free but a strict guest list is in operation and people wanting to attend should email [email protected] More information is available via their Twitter account @Raise4Matt
Rugby St Andrews RFC in Rugby is hosting Hamplified, a festival of music, comedy and rugby in support of the Matt Hampson Foundation.
The event begins on Friday, July 19 with a curry and comedy night before an all-day music and rugby festival on Saturday, July 20. More details are available via their Twitter account @Hamplified
