Walk 110 miles for local charity (From The Oxford Times)

Walk 110 miles for local charity

12:37pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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PEOPLE have been urged to take part in a national 110-mile canalside walk to support a West Oxfordshire charity.

Walk4Matt will raise cash for three charities, including Charlbury-based organisation SpecialEffect.

The charity is formed by businesses in the town, and provides specialist computer games for disabled children.

The fundraising drive will culminate in a walk from Rugby to the Guinness premiership final at Twickenham, on May 29.

SpecialEffect fundraising manager, Nick Streeter, said: “The key thing is that SpecialEffect helps children with disabilities to have fun with computer games, like able-bodied children.

“We are very small, but we have made real progress with lots of volunteers locally, and people have been doing quiz nights for us.

“The walk is going to be great fun, and we want people to have fun. We want to raise money, as well as awareness about what the charity does.”

There have already been video messages of support from MP David Cameron and rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio, urging others to join in Walk4Matt.

Director, Dr Mick Donegan said: “David Cameron’s support has played an immense part in our success as a charity and the speed at which we’ve been able to progress.

“He has taken an ongoing, keen interest in our work, and always, somehow, found the time to lend a helping hand.”

The Walk4Matt was inspired by Matt Hampson, who was paralysed from the neck down after a rugby accident.

It is hoped it will raise £75,000 for the Matt Hampson Trust, the Rugby Players Association (RPA) Benevolent Fund and SpecialEffect.

The charity helped to support Mr Hampson’s use of technology while he was recovering at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Mr Hampson, who four years ago was picked for the England under-21 squad, was playing rugby when the scrum collapsed on top of him.

He dislocated his neck, which trapped his spinal cord.

SpecialEffect has created a special computer games suite at the Helen and Douglas House Hospice, and has run games roadshows throughout Oxfordshire for disabled young people. Dr Donegan said: “The funds raised by this walk will help literally tens of thousands of severely disabled people to get more fun, friendship and competition through enhanced access to videogames and creative technology.”

For more information about the walk, visit the website walk4matt.org.uk