Tigers have teamed up with the Matt Hampson Foundation, Steps and CDKL5 UK as the club’s official charities for this season and representatives of all three were invited on to the pitch for a half-time presentation and photo during Saturday’s sell-out game at Welford Road.
Matt Hampson was joined by Steps representatives Rosemary Conley CBE and Shaun Crate – who also had the honour of delivering the matchball ahead of kick-off – and Tigers match doctor Martyn Newey on behalf of CDKL5 UK.
Matt Hampson Foundation: Our aim is to provide advice, support, relief and/or treatment for anyone suffering serious injury or disability which has arisen from any cause, but in particular from sporting activity or other form of physical education or recreation. We assist individuals by offering grants or by paying into funds to assist with equipment, technology or everyday expenses. We also assist organisations and institutions whose aims are similar to our own and who provide relief and treatment to those who have suffered injuries as described above. Through Matt Hampson, the foundation is also able to offer mentoring, friendship and education. If you would like to know more about the foundation, its aims or you would like to know more about Matt’s educational visits, email [email protected]
Matt Hampson Foundation website is www.matthampsonfoundation.org
Steps: Steps is a registered charity which provides a service and environment that allow all children and young people with motor learning difficulties to have the best possible start in life. This allows all family members to set, and be supported, in achieving aspirational goals; and to encourage the integration not isolation of people with disability into the community. Steps was started in 1994 by four families who recognised their own disabled children benefited from an system called Conductive Education, developed for children with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy. Our ambition was to make this service available to all families in the East Midlands irrespective of financial position. So, with passion and determination, we started our first services in a single rented room working with five local families. Eighteen years on 18 staff and volunteers provide free services five days per week to more than 50 children and families from across the East Midlands at a permanent facility in Shepshed. We need your help to continue with this vital work.
Steps website www.stepscentre.org
CDKL5UK: Martyn Newey has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Leicester since 1998 and for the past 11 years he has also provided pitchside medical cover for Leicester Tigers.
His youngest daughter Eleanor was born in 1997, and started having epileptic seizures when she was just 5 weeks old. She now has severe developmental delay, is unable to walk or talk, and needs 24-hour care.
In 2010, Ellie was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition CDKL5. There are now thought to be about 700 children in the world with a CDKL5 disorder. There are about 50 in the UK and at least two children in Leicester.
In 2012, a new charity, CDKL5 UK, was set up to raise awareness of CDKL5, provide support for affected families and raise funds for research.
Martyn’s website www.supporting-cdkl5.co.uk
