My Story

I would like to share with you my inspiration for Rush For A Cause.

In the fall of 2009, the end of my junior year of high school football, after returning from playing Friday Night, I heard tragic news that a defensive back from a neighboring community was seriously injured during his game. The news was not good. After a routine tackle, he suffered a vertebrae injury and was left paralyzed.

Word spread quickly. People, myself included, couldn't stop thinking about how sad we felt for this player, who we didn't know, and the reality of it was that we were all thinking about how easily that could have been any one of us.

I thought about how scared he must be, how his family is hurting, and how their lives changed in a single moment. A whole new world of hospitals, surgery, rehab, medical care, a wheelchair and expenses that have now consumed their day-to-day lives are what they are left with.

I thought about the situation for days, silently, on how wrong it was that the quality of life could be robbed so suddenly and undeserving and in addition leave his family financially overwhelmed.

I felt strongly that I wanted to do something.

I wanted to fix it. I wanted to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

My parents came home from work one day and I was doing my homework at the kitchen table. I told them that I had been thinking about the accident and that I had thought of an idea of how I could help. I felt that I could use my role as a Running Back to raise money for him and other injured athletes. I told them that "I have a name for it."

With the support of my family......I established

I recognized the need. I am compassionate about the cause and the potential it has to help others. I knew that to really make a difference that I would need help. I decided to recruit my fellow football players to help me with my cause in a fundraising campaign to secure sponsors to donate money for EVERY YARD THEY RUSH (rushing yards only; not all purpose yards) during their high school football season. A cap (maximum) can be put on the pledge. A donation for the cause is welcome as a substitute of pledging for those not interested in participating in the EVERY YARD THEY RUSH concept.

I am personally inviting every Running Back and/or Quarterback nationwide, at all levels of play (youth, high school, collegiate and professional) to join me in my cause. Collectively, we can Make A Difference!

Please visit the SIGN UP tab on the website and commit today to participating in the 2011 season. I am confident that you will feel good about being part of the RUSH FOR A CAUSE Football Family!

Thank you, Matt Galland