Continue reading »]]> UPDATE: Thank you Family and Friends for being a part of this event  Total raised $1,260.00 in this fight against childhood cancer!!!!

2/28/2013

To every single person that came out tonight to the 3rd annual Dodgeball event I want to thank you. To look up into the stands, and not see any seat’s left is truly touching!!!!! All of you kid’s are AMAZING!!!! To find a cure for childhood cancer this is what we must do FIGHT!!!!! All of you are Eli’s warriors now, and if you ever have an event or an idea just e-mail me at BraveEli@zoominternet.net.… Please visit www.BraveEli.com often so you can follow along and join us at other events. Thank you Eli’s Dad.

Continue reading »]]> Hello everyone,

I wanted to share a story with you about how the song “I bELIeve” from Fight For Eli came about. Although it is not quite finished and will be available very soon on CD and on iTunes, the story of this song is where the impact is. I believe when one can understand the background and where something came from, there becomes a greater appreciation for its journey.

For those who do not know, Fight For Eli was born out of the band Sucker Punch which was being driven by myself and Scott Caldarelli. Scott and I have been close friends and musical partners for 32 years now. Not only is Scott a true musician, he is a man of integrity.

At our very first show at Emeralds Tavern in November 2011, I heard Paul Matthews for the first time get up in front of people and tell Eli’s story. I was moved to say the least. I have heard Paul before tell me many things about Eli and many of things that the family endured. But to see Paul get up in front of people composed and speak from the heart and tell the story of bravery, about an unselfish boy named Eli that believed in a cure. When Paul spoke about the things that brought joy to Eli, going fast, riding on the motorcycle with his dad, all of those things made me think of celebration, not sadness. Even though my heart was heavy for Paul, Ruth, and Austin, I was moved for life.

On that night, when I heard Paul introduce us formally as Fight For Eli, somehow the Power of Eli took over and a force was brought that is now unstoppable. What a memory that night brings to me. An event to turn sadness into celebration. Nothing will ever be the same again.

As days passed after that first show, the song “I bELIeve” came to me. I started writing down lyrics. Then more lyrics. I began to share them with Paul. We were both moved to tears. I told Paul that one day this will be a song that many will sing. It was nowhere close to even being a song yet. Two months had passed by and I had finished the lyrics to the song. I then picked up my acoustic and starting writing the chord progression to the song and bring it to life.

I knew I had to do more to make this song happen. I then brought the song to my musical genious friend, Scotty C. Scott and I worked through the song for a while to polish it for everyone’s ear. The process of a song coming out of someone’s mind to final production is a long process. I can tell you that the song went through many changes. One thing that stayed true were some of the lyrics that give the song meaning and understanding about Eli, and the story of a father working hard to carry out his son’s wishes to find a cure. Lyrics such as ” the open road on the back of my bike, you touched so many you never knew, I’ll be in your arms one day, the day we end this fight, my love is still so true, I’m still standing but I miss you so much”… They are what give the song a genuine love for a life to live on in all of us.

In May 2012, “I bELIeve” was played live for the first time at Eli’s Celebration in Oxford,PA. This was the only place to play this song for the first time. I think the song went over very well and I can honestly tell you that it was hard for me to sing the song and get through it. It was very emotional with Paul, Ruth, and Austin in front of me singing a song to them and for them. I was hoping it would help them heal a little. I believe the song will have different meanings to many different people. I hope that it will have a positive effect on everyone and help the world understand how brave a boy can be.

Today, April 2013, as the song is being recorded by Fight For Eli, the band is working overtime to get this song ready for the world’s ear. Personally, being able to record this song with my long time friend Scott Caldarelli on guitar, Rich Gibson on bass, and my son Brady Molinaro on drums, it reminds me that dreams can come true. To record and play music live with my son gives me such joy that I truly cannot express it into words. The moments when my daughter Jordan sits in with the band live and plays guitar, it is unspeakable the joy that I feel.  It is those moments as a Dad that make me feel so lucky.  To hear my youngest, Luke, ask me recently to learn how to play drums like Brady just moves mountains.

During the recording process, I witnessed some great things.  I was able to watch my close friend Rich Gibson on the bass.  I watched him not get satisfied and work harder, and then harder, to bring out the best quality music possible.  That’s what you get when a real quality person gives it his all. No other person could have done this. I watched my son Brady amaze me yet again.  To see him record the drums on only one take, play it perfectly without mistake and with such ease, builds up feelings in me that draws tears. He came prepared and ready.  To be lucky enough in life to watch a master at work, Mr Scott Caldarelli, not only with genious guitar, but to continue to baffle me with his talent with recording and sound engineering. Scott knows exactly what it takes to create perfection.  Speaking for myself, he pushed me vocally to bring out the best performance that I could. How he can make someone with not that much talent look good is all his work.  How lucky am I to be performing in a band with such amazing people, beyond their musicianship, 3 of the best people in the world. Without Scott, Rich, and Brady, this band would not be possible. This is not a band about critique, it is a band about heart. It is a band about 4 hours of non stop classic rock for a cure.  Most amazing, everyone in the band does it out of heart and takes no money for their efforts. It is a band that solely exists to fight childhood cancer.

As the song is available, I hope everyone that listens to it can know where it came from and what it means to the Matthews family, and Fight For Eli. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we have enjoyed the entire process of bringing the song to life. I believe we were just vessels used and Eli brought it to life through us.

I also want to thank all of you that come out to support the foundation and Fight For Eli during live events. We pour out everything we have to bring positive moments to a world that needs hope. I appreciate all of your generous giving and support as we carry on Eli’s wishes to find a cure.

If you are ever down and feel there is no hope, remember one thing……

I bELIeve.

In God’s Love,

Eric Molinaro

Director of Public Relations

Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation

Fight For Eli

Continue reading »]]> To all of our Eli Warriors out there this is truly an honor.  For all of you that knew our Angel Eli you know that he loved going fast, hot rods, rock n roll and was a fan of tattoos…..  (Well maybe because Daddy has a few…)    The Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation Logo will be going very FAST!!!!  Also the Power of Eli will give the Wilson team even more POWER!!!!  Yes Angel POWER!!!!  To the Wilson family we thank you, and all of the children in this FIGHT against childhood cancer thank you.

From: Rachael Wilson

Paul:

Continue reading »]]> JOIN US AS WE PUNCH CANCER IN THE MOUTH…..   DO YOU LIKE TO ROCK?  IF YOU ANSWERED YES!!!! THAN PICK SOME OF THESE EVENTS AND BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES AS WE ROCK TO A CURE!!!!

Continue reading »]]> UPDATE

And the winners are the Black Dynamites.  Is it a coincidence they were wearing RED AND BLACK?  I think not.

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Eli’s Run

The Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013

Time: Fun Run – 9:00 am

5k Run/Walk – 9:30 am

*Please try to arrive at least 30 minutes before your race

Location: Oxford Area High School

705 Waterway Rd Oxford, PA 19363

(Please meet on the left by the tennis courts)

Participation Fee: Fun Run – $10

5k Run – $20

Team Races (for 5k Run only) – $90 per team (5 people maximum)
(Walk up registration accepted; T-shirt not guaranteed)
Awards: The top 3 from each age group from males and females will receive an award.
The top 2 teams with the best average time, best name, and best outfit will receive an award.

Age Groups: 12 and below, 13-17, 18-26, 27-35, 36-45, 46 and above

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This event is inspired by Eli Matthews and a portion of the event proceeds will go to support the fight against Adolescent Cancer and Leukemia.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO LEARN MORE!!!!

http://oxford-outlaws.com/extra-bases-for-eli-2013/

TO PRE-ORDER YOUR OWN EXTRA BASES FOR ELI T-SHIRT CLICK ON THIS LINK!!!!

AMAZING WORK BY Howett’s Screen Printing OF OXFORD, PA

https://www.leaguelineup.com/formpreview.asp?url=oxfordoutlaws&sid=1010672914&FormID=66267

Continue reading »]]> To all of our family and friends that came out today for our 2nd annual Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee’s in Kennett Square: We want to thank you for making it a huge success. We had a sold out event!!!!  Thank you to everyone that helped sell tickets.  The support today in this fight against childhood cancer (Leukemia) was truly AMAZING!. We also wanted to announce the proceeds from today’s event were  $2,135.25!  Now there is still more money to be collected yet so I will update this total next week.  We will only win this war together as we carry out Eli’s wishes to find a cure. We had lots of help setting up. OAHS Future Business Leaders of America showed up to be our servers as well as Alison McDougal Distenfeld, and her daughter Sophie.  Sophie was our youngest helper! She is so amazing and is just 10 years old and asked her mom weeks ago if she could make her own decision about what to do today the 23rd. Her mom asked her what she wanted to do and she said instead of going to my swim meet I want to help Eli instead. Now Sophie trained hard for her swim meet, but it was more important for her to help Eli. WOW!!!!! This is heart warming…. thank you Sophie. I am very impressed with the decision you made! The (FBLA), and Helping Hands (LEO CLUB) made today a flawless event, making it look easy. You are all so AMAZING!   I’m so thankful to all of you for doing so well. You would have thought you all had done this for years!  And to my son Austin…. thank you for being by my side as we carry out your brothers wishes to find a cure. Every person that came to the event today we now consider an “Eli Warrior” in this fight against childhood cancer. See you next year! bELIieve it or not, I have already scheduled next years event and it will be the Saturday before March 1st, February 22nd. The reason for this is, March 1st is Eli Matthews day in Oxford, PA, as proclaimed by Mayor Henry. I ask you all to spread the word, and wear red and black that day, Eli’s favorite colors, in Eli’s memory and honor. Thank you, Eli’s Dad.

*I want to call out Alice Ledger President of Helping Hands (Leo Club)—–  This team sold 81 tickets WOW!!!!!!!!!

*Sophie for getting her very own Applebee’s employee badge.  The Manager Ian A. Davies was impressed with everything this young lady did today.  Way to go Sassy Sophie with a smile so bright.

**** One more thing to the Manager Ian A. Davies we would like to thank you for all you did today.  You truly are a wonderful person, and Manager.  This is the type of thing that brings more business your way!!!!