The Matthew Zupanc Memorial Fund
Vasculitis Foundation Canada is pleased to announce The Matthew Zupanc Memorial Fund which assists young Canadians with vasculitis, under 30 years of age, with their travel and registration expenses to attend vasculitis symposiums. Matt attended these educational symposiums and derived great benefit from meeting other young adults living with vasculitis. He would be pleased to know that others could enjoy the same benefits he did. Travel grants up to $750.00 are available, conditions apply, the number of grants may be limited. Send your grant request, with a brief description of your vasculitis story, to [email protected]
From a young age, Matt lived with a chronic form of vasculitis and only discovered a community of support from his peers when he was 15 years old. Ultimately, his form of vasculitis was to be known as Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA), and was only classified as such when he was 19 years of age. With the help of Vasculitis Foundation Canada (VFC), and Vasculitis Foundation (VF), Matt was able to live his dream by working in “sports media” with TSN Sportscenter in Toronto. During this period, he received specialty care for his vasculitis at the Toronto Vasculitis Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Tragically, in May 2022, Matt was diagnosed with a rare cancer called angiosarcoma and passed away on October 19, 2022. When Matt was a toddler, and during his life, he took medications that were necessary to save his life. Unfortunately, it is now understood that some of these medications are known to cause secondary cancers.
Both VFC and VF provide patient education, increase vasculitis awareness, and support vasculitis research in the hope of improving patient care, disease control, and research into the cause and cure of these diseases.
To donate to this educational cause and support young patients on their vasculitis journey, while meeting with their peers face-to-face, click the link below and select Fund #9 – Matthew Zupanc Memorial Fund. All donations receive an immediate online charitable tax receipt via email.