Hey guys! As I mentioned on Wednesday, I am going to a fundraiser tonight. I promised you guys a post on the cause the fundraiser is for.

The cause is VERY near and dear to my heart. Anthony’s Dream is an organization that helps families in my Charlestown (the neighborhood in Boston that I live in) who are dealing with or suffering from catastrophic illness. The organization is named after Adam’s cousin Anthony, so as you can expect it is very personal and dear to me. I was privileged enough to get to know Anthony very well during his time here on earth. Anthony was one of the strongest, sweetest and just plain funniest people I have ever met. He is missed every single day by his friends, family and community.

Here is an article from the Charlestown Bridge Newspaper. Written by Dan Brown about the fundraiser that I think it great and helps explain what Anthony’s Dream is all about.

“While lifelong Charlestown resident Anthony Matson lost his brave battle to bone cancer on Oct. 2, 2001, at age 27, the Anthony’s Dream Fund keeps his memory alive by helping others in the community who suffer from catastrophic illnesses.

“He was probably the best kid I got to know in my life,” said Nicole Matson, Anthony’s sister and an Anthony’s Dream committee member. “I don’t ever want his name to die. He was too good of a person for his name to just go away.”
Anthony, who Nicole described as a “typical Charlestown kid,” coached Pop Warner football and worked at the Charlestown Community Center. He was first diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 1993. Soon after the initial diagnosis, he began chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which drove the disease into remission after about a year.In early 1998, however, Ewing’s Sarcoma returned in Anthony, and he once again underwent these treatments. By the following year, when radiation and chemotherapy provided Anthony with little relief, his mother began seeking alternate treatments. Anthony began experimental procedures, which were effective in treating his illness but cost in excess of $1,000 a month.

Anthony’s Dream Fund was established in April of 2001 to help defray the high cost of his medical treatment. The founding committee members hatched the plan during a meeting at the Life Focus Center and soon established it as a non-profit. In its first year, the organization sponsored three events – the Motown Cruise, Motown Night at the Knights of Columbus Hall and the Walk for Life – that together raised more than $30,000.
Sadly, Anthony died two weeks prior to the first Walk for Life, but not before telling his fellow committee members that he wanted Anthony’s Dream Fund to continue without him.
“Anthony knew it wouldn’t pan out and asked Nicole and [committee member] Joe McGonagle to carry it on,” committee member Kevin O’Halloran said. “We’re honoring his wish that something be in place in Charlestown to help with all our neighbors who are dealing with medical crises.”
The committee members eventually decided to sponsor only one event a year, Motown Night, in an effort to not overshadow other worthy causes in the neighborhood. “We have one event a year to remind the community of our mission and raise some money,” Nicole said.
Anthony’s Dream Fund has granted more than $90,000 to date, which has paid for medication, specialized equipment and other needs of those suffering from serious illnesses. On one occasion, the organization helped cover the cost of making a resident’s home handicap accessible. In most cases, however, the public never knows who the recipients are because of privacy issues.
“What is most gratifying is when you help someone out, and he or she returns to help out with event the following year,” Nicole said.
Above all else, though, O’Halloran emphasized that Anthony’s Dream Fund is in place to help all Charlestown residents, natives and newcomers alike, and encouraged everyone to attend the upcoming Motown Night.
“We’re not a Townie group; we’re a neighborhood group,” he said. “If you move into Charlestown, you’re part of the community, and we want to help.”

Anthony’s hunger for life, strength during his battle with cancer, and absolute selflessness is an inspiration to me and many, many others that knew him. So once a year, every year, our community gets together to dance to some great music, raise some money and keep the dream alive!

If you have any questions about the organization or are a Boston reader interested in attending, please email me at foodfitnessfashion@gmail.com. Adam is a committee member an has some ticket available. There are also some GREAT (and I mean GREAT) raffle prizes.