The Matt Hampson Foundation's 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 participation in or training for any sport, sporting activity or other form of physical education or recreation. We assist individuals by offering direct grants or by paying into existing and future funds to assist with equipment, technology or just every day expenses.

Through Matt and those benefiting from the Foundation a support network has been created which other injured sportsmen and women can take inspiration and support from and which allows them to move on with their lives and Get Busy Living.

The Matt Hampson Foundation will make a grant to Jonathan of all monies raised for him through this Just Giving page.

More about Jonathan:

Jonathan Brough, from Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, epitomises everything that the Matt Hampson Foundation stands for. He was a keen athlete and skier, competing at national level. After A levels he went to Canada in 2007 to qualify as a ski instructor, before taking up a place at university. Tragically he contracted meningitis while away which left him permanently paralysed from the neck down, dependent on full time care and a ventilator to breathe.

Despite this and the complications that this level of paralysis brings, Jonathan “got busy living”. He has a First Class Degree in Media Arts from Plymouth University, has made award winning films, taken part in numerous fundraising activities for various charities, has been able to experience skiing again through a Charity called Ski2Freedom, competes in Boccia (a special type of bowls) and he is now writing a book. 

In 2019 Jonathan successfully raised £17,000 towards the purchase of a new all-terrain wheelchair thanks to the incredible kindness of local charities and clubs as well as many generous individuals. 

The Matt Hampson Foundation is supporting Jonathan in raising money to buy the essential extra equipment he needs to make his new chair work for him. These extras include a bespoke shell for him to sit in, a special harness, head rest, as well as the reassurance that he can insure it and maintain it and keep it running for the foreseeable future. The Foundation is also supporting Jonathan in raising money to cover the costs that he has to bear personally for any outings or trips that require overnight stays. He plays Boccia and would like to attend competitions, he would like to participate in distance events in his new chair and go on other trips, such as an orienteering event in Scarborough which Jonathan had to cancel recently due to lack of funds. Jonathan's high level of paralysis means that he has to take two care teams with him when he goes away and he has to fund personally all the living and travel costs for himself and both teams as well as the extra wage costs for the second team. 

Once Jonathan has secured funding for this extra equipment, he will have direct access to the countryside around his home and further afield, driving his new chair using lip controls. The funding will also enable him to access and participate in a variety of events and one of his first goals is to do the London Landmarks Half Marathon in 2020. 

Any further money raised will enable Jonathan to make important changes to his home, such as replace the carpet with tiles to make it more hygienic and accessible.