FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 14, 2008
CONTACT:
Jennifer Wiederkehr
Voice: (973) 467-1211
Email: info@MattsPromise.org
OLD TAPPAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATES LIFE OF MIKE LAVIOLA
Mike LaViola’s parents
OLD TAPPAN, NJ – April 14, 2008 – More than 300 people came together on Sunday, April 13, 2008, to launch the Matt’s Promise Memory Run in honor of Mike LaViola, an Old Tappan resident who passed away this past February from synovial sarcoma at the age of 20.
The inaugural event raised over $40,000 to fund research into synovial sarcoma and other terminal illnesses that affect young people. The event, which was co-chaired by 17-year-old Morgan Procida of Norwood, New Jersey, was held at Stone Point Park in Old Tappan. Procida was the recipient of the first Matthew Wiederkehr Leadership Award, which will be given to an outstanding volunteer each year. Procida, the first recipient, united the community to make this event a huge success.
“I was completely surprised and honored to receive this award,” explained Procida. “I wanted to organize the event to help people, like Mike, who suffer from horrible terminal illnesses. I want to do my part to help Matt’s Promise raise funds for important research that can and does make a difference. That is reward enough for me.” Procida is a junior at Old Tappan High School where she is captain of the cross-country team.
In attendance were Mary and Michael LaViola, parents of Mike. “This event was a wonderful way to celebrate my son’s life,” LaViola, a lieutenant in the Alpine Township Police, said. “We all feel cheated that Mike’s life was cut short because he was a beautiful human being and a ray of sunshine to so many people. The Memory Run helped the community and our friends honor him in a significant way.”
A portion of the funds raised will go to research into synovial sarcoma at Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center. Major sponsorship came from IBEX Corporation, William Procida Inc., and Hertz Mountain Industries.
To make a donation in Mike LaViola’s name, please visit the Matt’s Promise website at www.MattsPromise.org or mail your gift to Matt’s Promise, PO Box 854, Millburn, NJ 07041.
For more information, contact info@MattsPromise.org or go to www.MattsPromise.org.
