About the Walkers
Posted by Rugby Nick
We are, as the name of this website suggests, Wasps fans. All of us are huge rugby fans who have come together to help a cause we believe in, to help our rugby family. We are not professional sports people, super athletes able to leap tall buildings in a single bound… we’re ordinary fans who just want to make a difference.
So this walk is going to hurt.
The Cast
Well first of all lets get a team shot out of the way – taken on the first day of the walk
The Wasps Walk 4 Matt team, yet again managing to find alcohol out of nowhere
Barney Burnham
Worcester-born, but long-standing Wasps fan. Took up charity walks in 2006, and organised
the Wycombe-Welford Road Wasps Walk For Matt, in 2007.
Works in media – mainly radio, for which he has the ideal face – and does the Wasps match reports and website interviews. Biggest challenge of all is trying to interview Joe Worsley. It’s like nailing jelly to the wall.
Is looking forward to sampling some regional real ales, and hopes that Jason Leonard leaves enough for the rest of us.
Stacey Harris
Hi, my name is Stacey Harris, and I am a 30 something mother of none, from a little village in Berkshire. I currently live and work in London as a ward sister in a very busy children’s hospital.
I first caught the rugby bug whilst living in Cardiff during the 1999 Rugby World Cup, and have been hooked since. I have travelled the world supporting rugby, and spent many a pound in the process – worth every penny! I am currently a London Wasps Season Ticket Holder, and will watch pretty much anything to do with rugby. I am looking forward to the Lions tour, as well as the London Sevens 09 and Middlesex Sevens.
I first got involved with fundraising with London Wasps in 2007, when a small group of us walked from Adams Park to Welford Road, which with a few ‘detours’ took us over the 100 mile mark in 4.5 days. Sadly, not all of my toenails lived to tell the tale*, but I have certainly learnt a few lessons on walk preparation (ie, prepare).
This charity walk gives me the opportunity to give something back to the sport I love, and help those who have suffered because of it. I pay to watch players put their bodies on the line, and it is only fair that I support them, when things go wrong. It was with pleasure I walked for Matt in 2007, and I look forward to the opportunity to walk again in 2009.
As a children’s nurse, I work with children with varying disabilites (including spinal injuries), and have seen the impact technology can have on their lives. I can really relate to the work Special Effect does, and hope we can make a real difference in children’s lives with the money we raise.
That’s about it from me – please donate if you can at www.justgiving.com/waspswalk4matt
I look forward to meeting some of you at the various planned events en route!
*photos are available on request 
Bethan Dennick
Hi
My name is Bethan Dennick and I am married to Matt and have three children, Elliot (10), Finley (8) and Tabitha (6). We live in Bloxham, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.
I have been involved in Rugby for 5 years and all three of my children play at Chipping Norton RUFC. I am the Youth Chair at Chipping Norton RUFC and have done this for the past 4 years. We now have 300 members in the Youth Section which is fantastic. I love the atmosphere on a Sunday morning when the kids are having fun and enjoying what the Club has to offer.
I help organise a Beer and Music festival every year and enjoy many aspects of fundraising both for the Rugby Club and Primary School. I run the Race For Life every year for Cancer Research UK.
I am secretary of the Friends Of Bloxham Primary School. We help raise funds to be spent on the School for the benefit of the children. Every year I help organise a Firework Display.
I work part time in a small village Delicatessen while the children are at School. Most of my time is taken up with Rugby. I enjoy photography and love all sports.
The reason I am participating in the walk is because it is for such worthy causes. Matt Hampson is an inspiration to us all.
You need to remember how lucky you are. It is very easy in life to take things for granted. Accidents do happen and if you can make a difference by doing your bit then I feel we should all try.
I want to wish everyone participating in the walk, all the best and hopefully we’ll raise loads of money for the Charities involved. If you have read this would like more information on the Walk log onto: www.walk4Matt.org . If you would like to Sponsor us then please log onto: www.justgiving.com/waspswalk4Matt
(Please mention my name so I am able to thank you personally)
many thanks
Bethan
Richard Hollings
Hi my name is Richard Hollings I am 49 years old married to Michelle (not quite so old) with two Children Alex 14, Olivia 10 and Kieran the Lurcher aged 3. Currently If part of the acting profession I would be “resting” but I am actively looking for work in the field of Project Management so will have my email switched on for every aching bone crunching mile. My other interests apart from Wasps are Golf (handicap 12) Cricket, Chess and Cinema. 
We live on the edge of Burnham Beeches (West Slough to the Locals) most importantly only 30 minutes from Adams Park. For the third year running I have volunteered to do “The walk”.
In 2007 I joined an intrepid band of walkers from Adams Park to Welford Road raising money for Matt Hampson (approximately 100 Miles in 4.5 Days) We finished by walking around the pitch at half time cheered on by 16000 Tigers fans, a day to remember.
In 2008 I joined another walk from Kingsholm to Adams Park this time raising money for other worthwhile charities.
2009 promises to be the best event yet in terms of scale and money raised and I have just dug out the Boots, special tape and Vaseline (you don’t want to know what that’s for).
Please give generously to the various charities and I hope to meet you at the various planned events.
Log onto: www.walk4Matt.org to read more about the walk . If you would like to Sponsor us then please log onto: www.justgiving.com/waspswalk4Matt
(Please mention my name so I am able to thank you personally)
Richard
Rugby Nick
I’m a no mark here really. Claiming all the glory by doing the writing, but I’m far too lazy, far too unfit and, well, far too Welsh and Ospreys supporting to have been picked to walk by Wasps! I am, however, addicted to rugby, and really believe in the cause. So I shall be bringing you updates, blog posts and much more of the coming few weeks. Thankfully from the comfort of my own chair.
