March 7, 2011 | Story by: Matt Young | Categories: Events, Featured
Cary, NC – Matt Cossa lost his battle with cancer in 2006 at the age of 21. The family turned their loss into a cause – to help find a cure for cancer. You can help too with a pair of events celebrating the life of a unique young man and making a difference in the community today.
Matt began high school at Green Hope in 1999, its inaugural year. He was in the Beta Club as a freshman and sophomore. He was in the DECA club as a junior where he won two District Proficiency Awards for Retail Merchandising and was nominated to attend the Nationals. Matt lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He was instrumental in starting the Green Hope Roller Hockey Club. As a 4-year starter for the varsity baseball team Matt was a three-time Tri-7 All-Conference selection and a two-time Green Hope HS Defensive Player of the Year. Matt was a member of the National Honor Society as a junior and senior. He graduated with honors with a 4.5 GPA in 2003.
Matt attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a junior, Matt was accepted into the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School just prior to losing his long battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the spring of 2006.
The Cossa family formed a non-profit fundraiser organization called The Matt Cossa Memorial Foundation in Cary that runs several events a year in memory of Matt. In four years they the memorial foundation has raised over $100,000 and all proceeds go to the Duke Cancer Institute to be used for local cancer research and treatment.
Miles for Matt – 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 19th, at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The event will start at 9:00 am. Online Registration is now open. On-site registration will begin at 8:00 am on the day of the event. Registration fee is $30.
Bats for Matt – On Saturday, April 9th Bats for Matt will be held at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary. Gates will open at 12:00 noon and will feature a high school conference baseball game between Green Hope and Panther Creek. The event will also include a silent auction, raffles, food and beverage, games and prizes, inflatables and live entertainment. Entry fee is $8 with children 10 and under admitted free.
“Things were always more fun with Matt there. He is a continuous inspiration to how I live my life day in and day out.”- Kim Cossa
That’s how we’d all like to be remembered.
