Matthew Santamaria

I'm fundraising for families affected by dementia

In 2017, I attended my college graduation and it was supposed to be an amazing day. However, I had a seizure after getting my diploma and had another seizure the following year. This affected my mental health, lost my confidence and it was a long few years. In 2025, after my fourth seizure, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. 

I started running at first to lose weight but mentally it was making a big difference. I got my confidence back. Since 2021, I have run over 50 races, including the 2023 NYC Marathon and the 2024 Philadelphia Marathon. This year, I will be raising funds and increasing awareness throughout the year for the Alzheimer's Association.

Dementia hits home for me as I lost my grandfather to Parkinson's disease in 2016. Support me on this journey as your donation would mean so much to me, my family and all those affected by dementia. Nobody should feel alone in this journey.