METS TO HOST FDNY VETERAN AND 9/11 FIRST RESPONDER MATT LONG
FOR MOTIVATIONAL PRE-GAME PROGRAM
THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 AT CITI FIELD
Tickets Are Available Online at Mets.com/mattlong or (718) 507-TIXX and Include
A Ticket to the 4:10 p.m. Mets-Braves Game and a Copy of Long’s Book “The Long Run”
FLUSHING, N.Y., August 23, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced they are hosting a special motivational program with 17-year FDNY veteran and 9/11 First Responder Matt Long before the Mets host the Atlanta Braves this Saturday at 4:10 p.m. at Citi Field.
Long will speak about his battle to survive and recover from a horrific bike accident in 2005 to finish the 2008 New York City Marathon and compete in the 2011 World Police & Fire Games, which start this Friday in New York City.
Tickets are available online at Mets.com/mattlong or (718) 507-TIXX and include a ticket to this Saturday afternoon’s Mets-Braves game, a seat at Long’s pre-game speaking engagement and a copy of his book “The Long Run” (Rodale Books), which was released in paperback earlier this month. Long’s talk will begin at 1:15 p.m.
Long was struck by a bus and critically injured on the streets of Manhattan while riding his bike to work in the winter of 2005. Doctors gave him a 1% chance to survive. He received 68 units of blood in the first 40 hours following the accident and spent five months in the hospital. Long underwent 40 surgeries in less than two years on his road to recovery. Doctors credit his survival and recovery to his high level of fitness and determination as an active runner and Ironman triathlete. It is this perseverance that Long wants to share with others who may think things seem impossible.
Long attributes his turning point to when he stopped listing what he wanted to do and started listing what he WILL do. He founded the IWILL Foundation, which provides training and funding to athletes recovering from traumatic injuries.
