Walk4Matt 2010 was a huge success.
By Barney
June 24 2010
Walk4Matt update by Barney Burnham who took part in the walk and gave us this first hand account of the walk and the fun.
Walk4Matt2010
Walk4Matt2010 was a huge success.
With donations still coming in, it’s already raised over £100,000, to be divided equally between SpecialEffect, the RPA Benevolent Fund, and the Matt Hampson Trust.
The 110-mile walk, which went along the Grand Union Canal, from Rugby to Brentford, and then along the Thames to Twickenham, began on Saturday the 22nd of May. Representatives of all the Premiership clubs were accompanied by a fleet of narrow boats, which provided the overnight accommodation.
The first three days coincided with the hottest weather of the year, and Monday the 24th was a very hard slog – 25 miles, in temperatures of around 30 degrees. That evening, though, Tring Park Cricket Club hosted a magnificent barbecue, which soon eased the pain of a very challenging day. The Tring Brewery provided the food and drink, and there was then a Q and A, compered by Leicester CEO, and former England and Lions hooker, Peter Wheeler. Taking part were Dusty Hare, who needs no introduction, England Saxons skipper George Skivington, London Irish hooker James Buckland, and Matt Hampson himself.
Wednesday night saw a court session at The Swan and Bottle, Uxbridge, with one of the highlights being a buttocks identity parade, as part of the case against one person facing a charge of inappropriate mooning.
Thursday evening saw everybody descend upon the Sun Inn, Richmond, where Jason had put a large sum of money behind the bar for them. The tour awards were presented that night, by none other than the Lion Man himself. Yes, Sir Ian McGeechan was there, having driven all the way from Leeds, to do the honours.
On Friday afternoon, everybody gathered at Brentford Marina, to walk the short distance along the Thames to Twickenham, via the odd pub. The official end to Walk4Matt2010 came at the Barmy Arms, Twickenham, which hosted a riverside barbecue, attended by England scrimmaging coach Graham Rowntree.
Other notable rugby figures who supported the walk included former Saracens owner Nigel Wray, who was on the towpath at 6.30 to join in for a full day. Andy Key, Leeds Carnegie DOR, spent a couple of days (and a night) with us, accompanied by his flyhalf Ceiron Thomas.
Three people deserve special mention.
Matt Grimes suffered the same injury as Matt Hampson, but quicker treatment meant that he can walk with crutches, and that’s precisely what he did. He was persuaded not to attempt the 25-mile day, but he heroically did the rest of the walk, finishing each day hours behind everybody else, but constantly cheerful.
Julie Darwin, from Gloucester, is a former international gymnast, who broke her back in training, and is now confined to a wheelchair. She has not been in the best of health, but, having been forced to pull out of last year’s walk, was absolutely determined not to miss this one. She began it with a brand new pair of gloves, and they had worn out, by the time we reached Brentford.
Then there was Simon Williams, who followed everybody in a canoe. A very lonely trek, in which he had to climb out at each of the nearly 100 locks, lift the canoe out, and then carry it to the other end of the lock, before getting back in to the water.
All three contributed enormously to the success of the walk, and their unfailing cheerfulness was a source of inspiration to all.
We’ll be doing it all again next year. Here’s to Walk4Matt2011.
Walk blog here, and donations can still be made via the walk website, www.walk4matt.org
