New centre set to change lives
A new centre that is set to change the lives of sports men and women who have suffered catastrophic injuries has been opened by the Matt Hampson Foundation.
The Get Busy Living Centre located in Burrough-on-the-Hill, a village about nine miles west of Oakham, was officially opened on Tuesday, October 2, by Matt Hampson and Mike Tindall.
For an emotional Matt, the event marked the culmination of a long held dream.
When asked by former team mate and master of ceremonies George Chuter on how he was feeling, Matt replied: "It's just sheer pride really for everything that the foundation stands for.
"I'm so pleased with the final outcome."
Set in rural surroundings on land donated by Fred and Dawn Wilson, the impressive new centre is the Matt Hampson Foundation's focal point where people affected by life changing injuries can make use of state of the art rehabilitation facilities, meet fellow beneficiaries and relax in peaceful surroundings.
"It's an absolutely phenomenal place," said Matt. "I'm blown away by it."
Matt, who was left paralysed from the neck down in 2005 during an England Under 21 rugby training session, has battled hard to live as normal a life as possible.
Due to his life changing injury he decided to set up the foundation so that others who have suffered similar catastrophic injuries through sport can receive support and assistance.
Former England international and a member of the 2003 England Rugby World Cup winning squad, Mike Tindall, has been the foundation's patron for a number of years.
He said the centre had been a dream of Matt's and he was happy to have played a role in seeing it come to fruition.
"We have lot of beneficiaries who aren't rugby players and this is a centre for all sports people who suffer life changing injuries," he said.
"Importantly, it's also a place for families of those injured, somewhere they can come for support and advice from others who are in similar situations.
"The support given to families is phenomenal."
Mike said the foundation was making a huge difference in people's lives and he would be on hand to help at the centre however he was needed in his role as patron.
The foundation's chairman of trustees, Roy Jackson, said everyone involved in the centre should feel "extremely proud".
He singled out Matt for special praise, saying he was "without doubt the most inspirational young man I know".
"The centre is going to change hundreds of lives and then thousands of lives eventually," said Roy.
The double storey centre has been built on the site of an old aircraft hangar.
A social area located downstairs features big screen TVs, comfortable seating and is a good place to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family, while the upstairs section features specialist physio equipment.
Matt said the next step was to build accommodation at the site, which would allow more people to use the facility and in turn, allow the foundation "to help more people".
"This is just the first step and I hope people will see how we are making maximum impact on people's lives," he said.
During Tuesday's opening ceremony, video messages of support from various people, including Prince Harry and former England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson were also shown.