This is my Everest - Matt sets his sights on the London Marathon

FORMER TIGERS MAN AIMING TO DO EPIC CHALLENGE FOR FOUNDATION HELPING OTHERS

- By STAFF REPORTER

A MAN whose refusal to let a sporting injury which left him paralysed ruin his life has set himself the challenge of taking part in the London Marathon.

Former Leicester Tigers player Matt Hampson said signing up for the world famous event, which takes place on April 26, will be his personal “Everest”.

Matt said he was inspired to do his own fundraising challenge, in which he hopes to raise £40,000 for his charity foundation, which supports young people after life-changing injury in sport, by the efforts of so many others.

Matt was at the start of a career in professional rugby with Tigers when an injury in training with England Under-21s in 2005 changed his life in a split-second.

Paralysed from the neck down and breathing via a ventilator, rather than lament what he had lost, Matt instead decided to focus on what he could still do and to “get busy living”.