The Matt Hampson Foundation and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – two official charity partners of The British & Irish Lions ahead of the 2025 tour to Australia – have formed a partnership to provide services for those diagnosed with MND.
From its Get Busy Living Centre headquarters at Burrough-on-the-Hill in Leicestershire, the Matt Hampson Foundation provides specialist physiotherapy, personal training and well-being support for beneficiaries who have experienced life-changing injury through sport, helping them back into sport, work or education and into adjusting to a new life after injury.
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was formed following rugby international Doddie Weir’s diagnosis with MND in 2016 and is committed to improving the lives of those affected by the condition.
The two organisations have now come together to share expertise and facilities at the Get Busy Living Centre to anyone active in sporting activity who has had diagnosis with MND.
The services available were showcased during an opening event on Saturday 6th April which was attended by Ed Slater, the former professional rugby player with Leicester Tigers and Gloucester who revealed his MND diagnosis during 2022.
Slater said: “Matt’s and Doddie’s organisations are both very close to my heart and I hope it gives everyone involved a huge amount of strength knowing that they have such good people behind them following this link between My Name’5 Doddie and the Matt Hampson Foundation.”
Motor neuron disease affects messaging from the brain to the muscles, leading the muscles to weaken, and currently has no cure. It affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any time.
Paul Thompson, director of fundraising and communications at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation said: “The Matt Hampson Foundation shares many of the same positive values as My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the vital work that they do makes us proud to support this collaboration.
“MND is a devastating diagnosis, but for people living with the disease to be able to access world-class facilities at the Get Busy Living Centre will play an important role in enabling them to live as fulfilled a life as possible.”
For more information, see websites at www.matthampsonfoundation.org and www.myname5doddie.co.uk. For details of the MND programme hosted by the Matt Hampson Foundation, email josie@hambo.co.uk
