Matteo Materazzi’s ALS fight: €150k raised in 48 hours, battle begins | OneFootball

In less than two days, over 1,000 people have chosen to support the battle of Matteo Materazzi, brother of former Inter defender Marco Materazzi, now a sports agent, who is suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

Matteo Materazzi and the race against ALS: over 150,000 euros raised in 48 hours, but the battle is just beginning

The mobilization started after the touching appeal published by his wife Maura on the GoFundMe platform, where a fundraiser was launched to finance innovative and highly expensive treatments.

An immediate and concrete response

Solidarity was not long in coming: within 48 hours, the goal of 150,000 euros was exceeded, and the amount continues to grow. The campaign quickly attracted the attention of many, both inside and outside the world of sports, creating a real race of solidarity to support a medical journey that could not only save Matteo, but also pave new ways for other patients in his same condition.

The goal: a personalized ASO therapy

The final goal, however, is still far away. As explained by Maura, the family's hope lies in the possibility of developing a personalized ASO (antisense oligonucleotides) therapy, specific for the genetic mutation found in Matteo. A treatment still in the experimental phase that has aroused the interest of the prestigious Columbia University in New York, under the guidance of Dr. Neil Shneider, one of the world pioneers in this field.

But to start the project, 1.5 million dollars are needed. A huge sum, but one that can become achievable thanks to the power of the network and the even minimal contribution of many people. As Maura herself wrote in the appeal:

"Only with your help can we hope to reach these figures and perhaps save not only Matteo's life, but also those of all those who live his condition. Even the smallest amount is important, because drop by drop the sea is made."

Matteo: "A cure may exist, but it needs to be found"

Matteo Materazzi, 49 years old, has decided to break the silence, publicly sharing his experience.

"A therapy for ALS may exist, but it still needs to be found. Funds are needed to accelerate this race against time. Everyone's help can be crucial, not only for me, but to fight this monster."

His words encapsulate the meaning of this struggle: it is not just a personal battle, but a collective commitment to the progress of scientific research on a disease that still has no definitive cure today.

A race of solidarity that can make a difference

The Materazzi family's appeal is a call to social responsibility and awareness: every contribution can become part of a breakthrough. The collection continues online, and the goal is to reach the necessary sum as quickly as possible, so as to be able to start the procedures for personalized therapy.

Those who wish to support this cause can do so through the official fundraising page on GoFundMe.

Hope, today, is more alive than ever. And thanks to the support of many, Matteo Materazzi's battle against ALS could turn into a shared victory.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.