Hi team!

My name's Matt Wilks and I'm excited to announce that I’ll be racing to raise funds and awareness for A-T Children's Project this April at the 130th Boston Marathon. A-T (short for Ataxia-Telangiectasia) is a genetic disorder that resembles the symptoms of muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and cystic fibrosis. By age 10, most patients have mobility impairments and a significantly elevated risk of developing cancer. The current prognosis is bleak and comes with substantial challenges to everyday life.

This cause is so meaningful to me because of a dear friend of our family and the greater Warwick community: Andrew Martin. I remember playing catch on the lawn with Andrew and his brother Brendan growing up. I was heartbroken when I first learned about Andrew’s condition and that he would be starting to use a wheelchair later that year.

But Andrew never let his diagnosis stop him from living his life. He made sure to spend his time enjoying golf, playing tennis, and swimming in the pool - always seeming to do each with a smile on his face. We might not have seen eye to eye during college football season, but I always respected his unwavering passion and support for the Alabama Crimson Tide (and getting the best of us in that BCS title game, woof).

The goal for Marathon Monday is to direct all fund raising efforts toward research to help find a cure for A-T. Please join me in the fight to help put an end to this awful disease.

Thank you for all the support and love,

Matt