Who am I
My name is Gregory Mathews, I am married to Tracey and have three sons aged between 11 and 16. I have Cerebral Palsy and I am proud to have been selected as a Games Maker for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. A Games Maker is a volunteer, helping to ensure the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games are a great success.
What am I asking for
I am looking for help with covering the cost of accommodation primarily, if you can provide a spot to camp or a bed for a few nights that would be really great, alternatively a small donation to help towards the costs would be gratefully accepted.
I am happy to stop on a camp site, in a hostel or someones spare room. The accommodation needs to be in Hounslow area, I have found a camp site in Chertsey that doesn't appear to be too far away. I am also looking for help towards the cost of fuel/transport as I will be traveling to London from Nottinghamshire for both games as well as training sessions before the games.
Why am I asking
As a Games Maker, we don't get paid for our time, nor do we expect to as it is a privilege to be selected to take part, we will be given travel passes to travel around London, ie to and from our venue, we will also receive meal vouchers for the days we volunteer. We do not get any help with accommodation which considering the number of Games Makers is no surprise.
Games Makers, like myself, are taking unpaid leave so the problem is that London is going to be far busier than it is normally during the summer period, this has lead to a high demand in accommodation and the prices being asked are reflecting the increase in demand. Even the Caravan and Camping club is running site on 'playing fields' and charging £30 per night, which could quickly become unaffordable for a Games Maker especially shifts that are being worked are currently not known so we have to either need to book for the whole period or wait until shifts have been announced which by then could see accommodation no longer available.
Can you help?
If you think you may be able to help please Contact me to discuss how you can help. All those that sponsor or donate in any way will be listed on the Sponsors page. I am also willing to discuss other deals, ie wearing a baseball cap with your logo on while not on Games Maker duty, sticking a car sticker in the back window or fly your organisations flag on a flagpole on the camp site, if I end up on one.
Latest Updates
Shifts for Olympic Games
Today I received confirmation of my shifts for the Olympic games, I will be volunteering for 14 shifts in the 3 weeks prior to the games starting.
Role Specific Training
Today I attended Role Specific Training in Hackney, London. It was a long day, leaving home at 5am and not getting home until 9pm due to various delays and diversions. It was a usefull day, I now have a better idea of what I will be doing.
Alternative Funding
Although my GoFundMe page is still being updated and promoted it seems the idea of Crowd Funding isn't accepted as well as it is in the USA so I have been looking for other funding sources. If you live in Northern Ireland or Leicestershire or you are a Civil Servant there are grants available to you, unfortunately I can find no such grants for anyone else which means me.
Crowd funding
Have created a GoFundMe page to help raise the money needed. After considering all the costs I have set my target at £800.
Preferred shifts
I have recevied and email today asking me to select my preferred shifts, I am not too worried about shifts but would prefer to do 5 shifts without a break, then a break of few days so can go home to see Tracey and the boys before doing another 5 days.
Camping and Caravan club repsonded
The Camping and Caravan club have sent me a polite letter explaining as they are not for profit they are unable to offer any discounts for Games Makers.
Orientation training
Today I have been informed of the Orientation training session I have to attend. It means a trip from Nottinghamshire to Wembley early in New Year.
Contacted Camping and Caravan club
Contacted the Camping and Caravan club today to see if they can help with my accommodation, hoping they can offer me a deal at Chertsey.
Set up site
I have decided to set up Sponsor a Games Maker to try to attract donations of accommodation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Contacted a large property owner
Contacted Amsprop via their web site to see if they had any land suitable where I might be able to stop in a camper. Not holding breath but worth a try