My name is Matt Stella. I am the Field Director; Health Policy & Advocacy. I am responsible for leading the East Region Health Policy & Advocacy Directors (HPADs) to engage our network of state-level Professional Societies and Patient Advocacy Organization partners to effectively shape policy to ensure access to care for patients at the Federal and State level and through private payers/PBMs. This is for the entire Johnson & Johnson portfolio as well as for any therapy a patient may need.

Being a part of the Road to Victories Team holds a very special place for me. I lost one of my best friends in 2015 to multiple myeloma. He courageously battled the disease for 13 years and sadly passed on July 10, 2015. He is survived by his wife, two 12-year old boys, and his family. Being part of this team and participating in this ride is in honor of Greg; it means a tremendous amount to me. Greg was a loving, loyal, gracious, kind, and incredible husband, father, son, uncle, and friend. He is missed every single day, and his passing has left an empty space in the lives of everyone he touched. We all learn to continue to live without him by our side, but his memory is a constant with us. I miss my friend.

I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work for a company that is invested in helping to improve the quality of life for so many people. As part of the Johnson & Johnson Team, I can attest to the direct emotional attachment and motivation involved working in a space to help change the lives of patients who are battling cancer. I am so proud to work for a company where our mission is to reimagine care for patients, and I am so proud to work alongside so many people who approach each day as more than just a job. Personally, I want to do my part in helping to continue the fight against multiple myeloma in honor of those still so courageously fighting the disease and in memory of those who lost their battle against this awful cancer.

In helping to raise money to fight multiple myeloma, I feel it is my way to help the larger movement to help people who battle this disease. I can remember sitting in one of my first meetings when I joined the Oncology Franchise, and there was a patient story about someone who continued to courageously move forward in life, and it included stories about the advancements in treatment. It literally brought tears to my eyes as I thought of the incredible advancements in helping patients with MM. It was both a hopeful feeling and a sad one—because I feel Greg just missed all the advancements that have been made in the past few years. Yet, I know there are people just like Greg who can look forward to a brighter future.

In the end, I know this will be an incredibly memorable and emotional experience for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the R2V Team, and I look forward to sharing the time with others who want to make a difference.

https://give.themmrf.org/fundraiser/5370018