The Matt Hampson Walk.

We were having a nice quiet day, surfing the internet and playing games, when we heard a strimmer battering the side of the boat, followed closely by a mower. The towpath grass was being cut and that meant the side of the boat would be plastered in grass. There was nothing for it, but to turn the computer off and get outside and wash the boat down. No sooner had we set foot out of the boat, we saw a procession of boats coming down towards Black Jack's Lock, all carrying banners of the 12 premiership rugby clubs.The 12 boats and their crew of over 100 people are taking part in the Walk4Matt09. They are helping to raise money for Matt Hampson, who is paralysed from the neck down.

Matt Hampson played for Leicester and England Under-21 before being paralysed in a scrummage in training in March 2005. The walk began in Rugby.

And will end in Richmond-on-Thames on midday Friday 15th May 2009, the day before the Guinness Premiership Final at Twickenham. If you see them please support them as it is for a good cause. I got chatting to one of the designated skippers, who told me that all of the boats skippers had to take a course to steer the boats, because none of them had done it before. They were all having a wonderful but tiring time. Even the walkers were still smiling. At the end of each day they look forward to an evening in a pub near to the canal. I promised them I would give them a mention and I sincerely hope they continue to enjoy the walk.

The walk has the backing of British Waterways, PRL (Professional Rugby Limited), PRA (The Professional Rugby Players Association) and all 12 Guinness Premiership Rugby Union Clubs, Leicester, Northampton, Bath, Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol, Newcastle, Sale, Harlequins, Wasps, Saracens and London Irish. Good luck to them all on their final leg.