Matt’s Place “Journey Of A Million Smiles”
Guinness Book of World Records & Matt’s Place Inc.
Present “Journey of A Million Smiles”
http://officialmattsplace.org/
June of 2010, Matt Eddy will be attempting to set a new Guinness Book World Record “Trans USA by Wheelchair” Claim ID 279955 while conducting the “Million Smiles Tour“. Matt has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and is only strong enough to move two fingers. He is confined to a wheelchair and requires a ventilator to breathe. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease is a severe recessive form of Muscular Dystrophy characterized by rapid progression of muscle degeneration.
Matt was diagnosed at the young age of 4 and was able to walk until he was 10. At the age of 20, Matt was institutionalized for 6 months after a tracheotomy was placed and he became ventilator dependent. With the help of
Matt’s Place he was able to move out of the institution into his own community home with full medical supports. From June 29, 2008 to October 25,2008, Matt took his wheelchair
Roll’n Across America Summer 2008 to raise awareness for disability issues and represent
Matt’s Place, a charity that Matt and his Respiratory Therapist Ron Steenbruggen started to build accessible houses for people with severe disabilities so they can live independently in their communities.
Matt will leave Red Rock Park at Lynn Beach in Lynn, Massachusetts on June 5, 2010 at 10am and drive his wheelchair on back roads across the USA with a final destination of The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Matt’s goal is to cross the USA in the shortest time by wheelchair while collecting one dollar from one million people. The journey is estimated to take 120 days. The funds raised from the “Million Smiles Tour” will support the programs provided by Matt’s Place Inc.
Matt’s Place Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization which helps people with severe physical disabilities who are intellectually capable of directing their own care live independently in the community. Matt’s Place provides housing, caregiver training and scheduling and community education and awareness. Currently there are millions of non-elderly adults living in nursing homes and chronic care institutions simply because there is a severe shortage of affordable accessible housing. The programs of Matt’s Place are a win-win situation for all Americans. Enabling people with severe physical disabilities to live independently within their community not only provides a better quality of life for people with disabilities but also is more cost effective.
Matt’s Place current fundraising goal is $35,000. This will provide the funds necessary to get Matt and his support staff across the country and to abide by the guidelines set up by Guinness Book World Records to verify and claim the “Trans USA by Wheelchair” record. All donations are tax deductible and can be made payable to Matt’s Place c/o Eastern Bank, 156 Boston Street, Lynn, MA 01904 or online at www.officialmattsplace.org/donations.htm .
Kenny & Company proudly support the astonishing work Matt’s Place
is doing to help get people with disabilities out of institutions!
We urge our readers to support Matt’s Place!
We are Thankful to Tim Carey of DisabilityVoice for letting us know about Matt’s “Million Smiles Tour”. It’s important that people with disabilities and those who care about people with disabilities join forces and network with each other to help make the world a better place to live.
To read a Boston Globe news article about Matt’s Journey click on: ‘Rolling sea to sea’ by Maureen Mullen / Boston Globe / February 4, 2010
Below is the contact information for Matt’s Place and a video of Matt’s 2008 journey Roll’n Across America!
Matt’s Place
P.O. Box 305
Lynn, Ma. 01903
Phone: 1-888-70-MATTS (62887) or 781-581-2205
Website:
http://officialmattsplace.org/
Email:
info@officialmattsplace.org
Roll’n Across America 2008
You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFtEDYgTDOo
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Wow! It is awesome what Matt and his caregivers are doing! It will help show the public that persons with disabilities belong living in the Community and NOT living in Institutions where we are EXCLUDED from the world. Thank You!!!!
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Bravo!! I applaud Matt and Matt’s Place. It is great what they’re doing. I’m a strong believer in Community Living for persons with disabilities. Way too many persons with disabilities are locked up in horrible Institutions unnecessarily due to lack of funding!
January 4th, 2010 at 9:36 am
It’s AWESOME what Matt and Matt’s Place is doing to help people with disabilities live in the Community where they rightfully belong. Roll’n across America in a wheelchair takes Courage, Commitment and Dedication!! Kudos to Matt & Matt’s Place! And Thank You to Kenny & Co for sharing the story of his “Million Smiles Tour”!
January 4th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
It is an awesome thing that Matt would like to do. And it is even more amazing that it is the second time that he is going to attempt this. His first journey was a success, but the world record people didn’t record his awesome achievement. This time let’s cheer him on to a successful world record. I am glad that DisabilityVoice and The Traveling Wheelchair could help promote his journey. Every one contact everyone you can encourage them to donate.
Also we need a big presence at the beginning of each State that he will be traveling through and we need an even bigger welcome for when he reaches California. Some big corporate sponsors would also be very great for Matt’s journey.
Also don’t forget that he is trying to promote people with disabilities and show everyone that people with disabilities do not belong in an institution. If Matt was in an institution he could never have accomplished any of this. This also shows people with disabilities can do anything they put their mind too. Let’s all stick together and help Matt out.
January 4th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Matt’s place is doing great things to help people with disabilities to live in the community. I think that this great that he is going to attempt this great journey again.
January 5th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
What Matt is doing is Fantastic! Thanks for letting everyone know about his Journey! I will be rooting for him all the way!!!
January 6th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
WOW!! THIS IS FANTASITC AND I WISH MATT A HUGE SUCCESS!! GO MATT!!!!
January 8th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
WOW…… Absolutely Amazing……… I will be rooting for Matt all the way to California!!
January 15th, 2010 at 10:20 am
I support Matt and Matt’s Place in their efforts to make a difference for people with disabilities to live in their community. I applaud them for their Courage, Commitment and Dedication!!! What a wonderful thing you guys are doing and I am inspired by you! Good luck and safe travels!