Dear fellow Cavalier Daily alumni,
Many of you know or have met Matt Branson. If, like me, you worked on The CD staff in the ’90s, you are among those lucky enough to count Matt as a friend. Matt was Managing Editor of The CD from 1993-94, having served as sports editor and writer for the preceding two years. He also served as CD ombudsman when he returned to UVA for Law School. He now lives with his wife and two teenage kids near Richmond.
Matt is fighting for his life, having been battling acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive and fast-moving cancer, for the past year and a half. The good news is the world-class cancer center MD Anderson has identified two clinical trials that are well-suited to combat the specific, stubborn mutations of his case. Unfortunately, this means he and his wife Nicole will have to live more or less full time in Houston for several months, apart from their kids as one graduates from high school and the other faces heart surgery this summer. The additional travel, housing, and living expenses add considerably to the massive strain they already face.
Some of Matt’s closest friends have organized a GoFundMe to help ease that burden for the Bransons in whatever way we can. Peace of mind can make a huge difference in the healing process, and we want to give Matt the best chance possible.
Some of you might not know Matt personally, but I think you’ll understand what I mean when I say that Matt was one of those people who did the most to make the 5th floor (later the basement) of Newcomb feel like a second home for dozens of other kids. He was a steady, calming influence in the often frantic newsroom. As ME his door was always open, whether to a page editor struggling with layout or a reporter at a dead end on a story or to anyone stressed out about any aspect of life. He was always willing to take any assignment, including the sports that don’t get as much attention as football and basketball, and everyone would tell you he was the best road trip buddy you could ask for. He could be found chatting with anyone anytime about anything, whether it was their first or one-thousandth day at the paper. He cared deeply about The CD but even more so its people, and it was thanks in large part to him that those of us who worked there with him never felt like it was work. He made sure we met the big challenge every day of getting that paper out and still felt like a family. Those of us who’ve remained lifelong friends with him count that friendship as a great blessing every day.
Thanks for reading this. A donation of any size is greatly appreciated more than you can know, and please keep the Bransons in your thoughts and prayers.
With gratitude,
David Kazzie, Matt Phillips, and Eric Snyder
Class of 1995