Stand Tall For Hall

My name is Matthew Hall and I am a cancer survivor. In October 2016 at the start of my junior year of high school, I started having back pain. I thought it was just a pulled muscle from running 35-40 miles per week for cross country but within a week, my life changed forever. The doctors found cancer in my back and my hip. I was diagnosed with Burkitt's Leukemia (a rare and aggressive cancer). I received my treatment at the Valerie Center at Morristown Medical Center. Quickly I learned that I was not just another patient to the doctors, nurses, social workers and other members of the staff. They embraced my family and me with open arms and were by my side every step of the way. Although my road to recovery was a long, grueling process, I learned how to fight for something from a place of love and compassion. The interactions and lessons I learned from other patients have remained with me to this day. On St Patrick's Day 2017, my treatment was complete and on Good Friday, my doctor told me that I was cancer free. I returned to high school that May and was able to have a normal senior year running cross country, track and field, and taking on the role student council president. For college, I attended the University of Notre Dame, studying financial economics, accounting, and digital marketing. I had a job filming practices in addition to home and away games for the football team. I traveled to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State, Dallas for the Rose Bowl against Alabama, Charlotte for the ACC Championship against Clemson and Orlando for the Camping World Bowl against Iowa State. I was fortunate enough to study abroad in South Africa for 3 weeks and went to the U.S.-Mexico border on a service trip during fall break. I graduated in May 2022 and relocated to Los Angeles to start my career with Comcast NBCUniversal. The Valerie Fund has helped my family and me during this difficult time in our lives and it is important to me that others receive the same support. Please consider joining my team by making a donation and even participating in The Valerie Fund Walk.