Memory of Franklin Lakes Child, Victim of Brain Cancer, Lives on Beyond the Borough

Eleven middle school students in Woodcliff Lake, searching out a cause for a church service project, were struck by the memory of a Franklin Lakes child that lost a fierce battle with brain cancer six years ago.

Matthew Larson was diagnosed as a toddler with a rare type of brain cancer that left him hospitalized for nine months. After years in remission, the disease recurred in 2006 and took his life at age seven.

Matthew’s mother, Kelly, started the foundation IronMatt near the end of her son’s battle, taking the name from a family friend’s entrance into the Ironman World Championship in an effort to raise funds and awareness of pediatric brain cancer.

Years later, the foundation is still active with Larson at the helm, and word made it to seventh grade students at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Woodcliff Lake, who unanimously deciding to support the foundation through bake sales at Sunday masses.

All told, the students raised over $2,000 for the foundation, which works to support the children and families effected by pediatric brain cancer.