In 2006, my family was struck by the terrible news that my grandfather had the deadly disease known as lung cancer. He was a man who never smoked cigarettes, which shows that anyone who has lungs can get lung cancer.  I was 4 years old when he died from lung cancer in March 2008. It was a very tragic loss in my family, and that is why we walk to raise money and awareness in his memory.

On November 2nd, a lung cancer support and research foundation named LUNGevity will hold its 5th annual “Breathe Deep DC” to support lung cancer treatment.  Please think about making a donation or joining “Team Matt’s Bats” at the walk on the National Mall.  It’s coming up very soon!

Last year, I wrote about the reason I support this charity and I asked people to come walk with my family and asked people if they would donate. I ended up raising a stunning amount: $11,259! Please read my post from last year about why this is such an important charity.

I was rewarded at the event last year with a bat autographed by Jayson Werth, given to me by NBC 4’s Doug Kammerer.  This was a huge surprise. Dozens of people, some I have never met, read about my fundraiser and donated. Please read my review post from 2013 Breathe Deep DC.  I thank everyone that donated last year.  Here are 2 pictures of some of my supporters from last year.

2013 Team Matt’s Bats at Breathe Deep DC for LUNGevity

The walk goes past all the monuments on the Mall.  Here I am imitating Bryce Harper’s SI Cover from 2013

I am raising money again this year.  Please visit this link to donate.  With about 2 weeks to go before the event, I have reached more than 30% of my goal of $5,000.  That is the same goal I set last year, but last year Matt’s Bats readers more than doubled it!  I would like to pass that goal this year, too.

Again, the event will be held on the Mall in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, November 2nd at the Sylvan Theater right near the Washington Monument.  You can sign up to join my team and attend the event and walk the 5K course or donate here. I want to honor my grandpa, who was a great man, by collecting donations for the disease. My grandfather was a great man who showed loving kindness to me, my brother, dad, mom, and wife.  When he was healthy, he was a doctor who helped other people get better, and he when he got lung cancer he also helped other cancer patients.

Each year lung cancer kills more people each year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney, and melanoma cancers combined. More than 50% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have quit smoking, or, like my grandfather, never smoked at all.  I hope one day this terrible disease is cured, and the first step is to donate. You can help stop lung cancer, with a generous donation on this page:

http://events.lungevity.org/goto/mattsbats

Thank you for helping me end this horrid disease.

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