Matthew Gluck Runs for ALS

It was one year ago when Matthew Gluck's mother, Ellen, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). After contemplating the severity of this disease and the effects on its victims, Matthew decided to run.

Not run away from his family troubles, mind you. He decided that running would be the best way he could raise awareness for a cure. Always with a sense of humor even in the face of tragedy (Matthew is a self-styled comedian) he writes on his website that to raise money for the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. He'll do all the work.

"You will do nothing," Matthew said. "I will run and you'll send in a donation in November."

Calling the fundraising effort, "Matthew Gluck Runs," he started with an Earth Day 5K run in New Jersey in April and continues until Thanksgiving at the Gail Gorin Thanksgiving Turkey Trot in Smithtown, NY. By the end he will have run in 10 road races in the Tri-State area, each race between 3.1 and 6.2 miles with a total goal of 50 miles.

But if you are the type not to couch potato your way through a fundraiser, Matthew suggests running with him.

"If you choose to be a runner or a walker, I will make a donation for you, in your name, based on how many miles you run," he said.

Matthew also has a third, more tongue in cheek, suggestion:

"Do nothing, and hope I injure myself while running. That, as usual, will be extremely helpful."

Apparently running is in his genes. Matthew's father, Harvey, was a runner for years.

"I guess I got the bug from him," Matthew said. "When I was younger, he would run in 3, 5 or 10 miles races and would take me to do the 'Fun Run' of 1 mile."

Matthew had run Cross Country for his Middle School and High School.

Already, Matthew's fundraising has reached an amazing $16,986.00. But he's not stopping yet. A founder of his own company, LMS Strategies Inc., a process consulting practice for the banking industry, Matt never tires when working for a cause.

In fact, while attending the Inaugural Carl S. Levine Golf Classic, (also a fundraiser for the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter) Matt hosted a live auction that brought in thousands of dollars for the charity, including selling off a Smart Car donated by his Dad that went for $14,000!

He says that the response to the "Matthew Gluck Runs" fundraising efforts have been "overwhelming!"

The entire family, including Matt's wife Lindsay, his brother Jason, and his mother and father, Ellen and Harvey, want all their supporters to know how appreciative they are by the outpouring of support.

"These generous contributions are helping such an amazing cause," said Lindsay Gluck in an email.

His website, www.firstgiving.com/matthewgluck, enables you to pledge to "Matthew Gluck Runs," which donates 100 percent of proceeds to the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter.