Oct 26, 2009 1:23 pm US/Eastern
Go! New York: Team Reeve's Marathon Mission
Matthew Reeve Hopes To Raise Money For Paralysis Treatment Research
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The late Christopher Reeve, prior to his paralyzing injury.
AP
The New York City Marathon is this Sunday. Thousands of people put months of training behind them to run the 26.2 miles through all five boroughs.
Columbus Circle for thousands of people signals the homestretch. The finish line is only a couple blocks up. The Marathon is an amazing event, especially if you are running for a cause that is near and dear to your heart.
Such is the case for 29-year-old Matthew Reeve, an NYU grad student, documentary filmmaker and the oldest son of the late famed actor Christopher Reeve.
"No, I've never run a marathon, never run a half marathon, barely run a block," Reeve said.
However, he will run Sunday, and for a great cause. He's running on behalf of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and spinal cord injury research.
There's nothing worse than seeing a child not able to walk, and I've seen far too many," Reeve said.
It was 1995, when a horse riding accident left his father Christopher Reeve paralyzed from the neck down. The actor best known as Superman would never walk again, but spent the rest of his life working passionately to raise money for paralysis research.
That same passion was passed on to his three children, including Matt.
"Following my father's injury I've always been grateful for just the ability to move and do the simplest things," he said. "Far more people are living with paralysis than previously thought. It used to be current wisdom that 250,000 to 300,000 people have injuries. It's actually closer to 1.275 million people living with paralysis. That's why I'm running with 1275 number that will represent the 1.275 million people."
Matt's goal is to raise $1,000 for every marathon mile.
"Even if I'm not raising millions of dollars it's going to help somewhere and I'm grateful for the opportunity," Matt said.
Reeve is doing something he never thought he would. He's going to run a marathon, all with the hope that his effort will allow someone else to do something they've never done before: walk again.
"I think he would think I've been replaced by a clone. I wasn't a runner in March, never mind five years ago. I've never run. I think he'd be pleasantly surprised and proud, very proud," Matt said of his late father.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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