Matt's woodworking with ALS fund
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Matt Grzesik. I used to have a career in the fitness industry, but due to health issues, I was forced to step away. After many visits with a lot of different doctors and too many tests to count, I was eventually diagnosed with ALS. This means that I will never be able to continue in the career that I have had great enthusiasm for since the age of 14.
Fortunately, I have found something else which I have a huge passion for, and that I can continue to do despite my diagnosis; woodworking. Not only does woodworking give me a purpose during this turbulent time, it also gives me the opportunity to leave something behind to be remembered by.
My goal is to build as much as I can for as many family members and friends as I can. It gives me the opportunity to connect with those whom I love and care about, and also helps my wife and I financially. Unfortunately having ALS is expensive, and on average it cost a family around $250,000, as such, it is essential for us to save money now for the expenses we know we will encounter in the future.
I plan to woodwork for as long as I possibly can; and as long as it is still safe for me to continue. Due to the degenerative nature of ALS and what it will take from me, I have to be especially careful and take extra precautions to prevent injuries. I know one day I will have to stop, but in the mean time, there are ways to make my shop more safe. So I’m doing everything I can to create a shop that is a safe place to work.
One piece of equipment that will be of tremendous help is purchasing a SawStop table saw. This will greatly reduce the chances of losing fingers because of the flesh sensing brake. No one wants to lose fingers, but for me, it would complicate an already complicated situation. Not only is it the safest table saw on the market, it is also one of the nicest and most accurate. At the moment I still use a lot of hand tools, but I’m starting to struggle with the physical exertion required for this type work. As my symptoms progress, I will also need to think about relying more on power tools to limit physical activity to a tolerable level.
Unfortunately I do not have the financial means to purchase a SawStop or more power tools and time is not on my side. My goal is to raise enough money to purchase this saw as well as other pieces of equipment that will make my shop safer and more efficient so I can continue to make jewelry boxes and other items for the people I love and care about. My initial goal is $3,500 for the SawStop, and anything over that I plan to use for other items in the shop.
The support my wife and I have already received has been emotionally overwhelming, and I can’t put into words how much it has meant to us. I have been hesitating to set up a GoFundMe because I have struggled accepting help from others, as well as living through the worst public health pandemic in a century, but I don’t see any other way I can continue to build all of the orders I have received from loved ones without getting the necessary equipment. Another way to help would be to help me spread the word about this fundraiser by sharing this link. Any contribution, including sharing the link, is greatly appreciated and means more than you know.
Fortunately, I have found something else which I have a huge passion for, and that I can continue to do despite my diagnosis; woodworking. Not only does woodworking give me a purpose during this turbulent time, it also gives me the opportunity to leave something behind to be remembered by.
My goal is to build as much as I can for as many family members and friends as I can. It gives me the opportunity to connect with those whom I love and care about, and also helps my wife and I financially. Unfortunately having ALS is expensive, and on average it cost a family around $250,000, as such, it is essential for us to save money now for the expenses we know we will encounter in the future.
I plan to woodwork for as long as I possibly can; and as long as it is still safe for me to continue. Due to the degenerative nature of ALS and what it will take from me, I have to be especially careful and take extra precautions to prevent injuries. I know one day I will have to stop, but in the mean time, there are ways to make my shop more safe. So I’m doing everything I can to create a shop that is a safe place to work.
One piece of equipment that will be of tremendous help is purchasing a SawStop table saw. This will greatly reduce the chances of losing fingers because of the flesh sensing brake. No one wants to lose fingers, but for me, it would complicate an already complicated situation. Not only is it the safest table saw on the market, it is also one of the nicest and most accurate. At the moment I still use a lot of hand tools, but I’m starting to struggle with the physical exertion required for this type work. As my symptoms progress, I will also need to think about relying more on power tools to limit physical activity to a tolerable level.
Unfortunately I do not have the financial means to purchase a SawStop or more power tools and time is not on my side. My goal is to raise enough money to purchase this saw as well as other pieces of equipment that will make my shop safer and more efficient so I can continue to make jewelry boxes and other items for the people I love and care about. My initial goal is $3,500 for the SawStop, and anything over that I plan to use for other items in the shop.
The support my wife and I have already received has been emotionally overwhelming, and I can’t put into words how much it has meant to us. I have been hesitating to set up a GoFundMe because I have struggled accepting help from others, as well as living through the worst public health pandemic in a century, but I don’t see any other way I can continue to build all of the orders I have received from loved ones without getting the necessary equipment. Another way to help would be to help me spread the word about this fundraiser by sharing this link. Any contribution, including sharing the link, is greatly appreciated and means more than you know.
Organizer
Matt Grzesik
Organizer
Lawrence, KS