Matt's Personal Fundraising Page for Grandpop Matt
My Story
About 2 years ago, my wife and I were in a serious car accident where someone ran a red light and T-boned the side of the car I was on, knocking me unconscious and sending me to the hospital in an ambulance. After a few days and with a broken hip, pelvis, and rib, I was discharged to go home. I then spent many months in physical therapy learning how to sit, stand, walk, and ultimately run again. My wife and I are both incredibly lucky that we are fully recovered from this bad accident now and that we had great family and friends to help take care of us.
Having been a runner since middle school, I took for granted the ability to go out for a jog or run anytime I wanted. With this car accident, that was gone in an instant.
My Grandfather’s Story
Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t cause devastation in an instant. Instead, this terrible disease acts slowly and tragically, usually during someone’s last few years of life. My grandfather, Matthew A. Salvatore, was a WWII US Army Air Corps Pilot who fortunately returned home from service in one piece, married my grandmother, had 3 children, and enjoyed a 35-year career at General Motors. Later in life, he suffered from Alzheimer’s and my grandmother, aunt, and my mother had to take care of him. This awful disease is not only tragic for the diagnosed individual who loses a sense of who they are, but also tragic for their caregivers and family members who love the person that forgets them.
My grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2003. You can read more about him in his obituary here https://obits.nj.com/us/obituaries/trenton/name/matthew-salvatore-obituary?id=15612608.
Please Support!
Now, 20 years since his death, with all our medical science advances, we still have basically no widely available medication to treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
So, I’m putting my regained ability to run marathons to good use and fundraising with Team End ALZ to benefit the Alzheimer's Association! I'm running the full 26.2 miles of the Derby Marathon in Louisville, KY on April 29th! Please consider giving $2 for every mile I run, or about $52 total to this important cause.
Currently, more than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's. More than 11 million family members are providing free, around-the-clock care. Alzheimer's will cost the US $321 Billion in 2023. The future of this disease is devastating as these numbers are expected to triple by 2050. We must come together to change the course of this disease now!
All funds raised benefit the Alzheimer's Association and its work to enhance care and support programs and advance research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer's and dementia. Thank you for your support!
Updates and news on my training and fundraising!
Topics
Race Day Today!
Wow, I never imagined this fundraiser would be so successful. Thank you all so much! I had to increase my fundraising goal twice thanks to all of your support for this worthy cause!
Now it's time to do my part! I'll report back after completing the marathon!
Thank you all!!
by Matthew Melillo on Sat, Apr 29, 2023 @ 4:38 AM
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1 Week To Go!
Wow, I'm blown away by the generosity of everyone who has donated to this great cause. Thank you so much!
The race is just 1 week away and I'm all finished with my long training runs. I'll just be running a few more times before the big day, trying to keep the legs fresh and ready to go.
Thank you everyone for being a part of this with me!
-Matt
by Matthew Melillo on Sat, Apr 22, 2023 @ 12:55 PM
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