Matthew Reeve to Run 2009 ING New York City Marathon for Team Reeve

Son of Christopher Reeve to run on behalf of 1.275 million Americans living
with spinal cord injury

SHORT HILLS, N.J., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Christopher & Dana
Reeve Foundation today announced Matthew Reeve, son of Christopher Reeve and
member of the Board of Directors of the Reeve Foundation, will run the 2009
ING New York City Marathon. Running as a member of Team Reeve, Matthew was
inspired to compete on behalf of the 1.275 million Americans living with
spinal cord injury.

"As a first time runner, I do not underestimate the challenge that lies
ahead," said Matthew Reeve. "But I am motivated to do the training, to run,
and to cross that finish line by the millions of people living with spinal
cord injury who struggle daily with considerable challenges."

Matthew was inspired to run the marathon after he learned about the incredible
size of the spinal cord injured community in the United States. Recently, the
Reeve Foundation released the results of the largest paralysis population
survey ever conducted, which reported that 5.6 million Americans live with
paralysis, 1.275 million of whom are paralyzed due to spinal cord injury. To
honor this community, he will be wearing bib number 1275.

"We all know someone -- a brother, sister, friend, neighbor, or colleague --
living with paralysis," continued Reeve. "They are only one degree of
separation from all of us. They live with a condition that affects their
family life, their ability to work, and their capacity to enjoy even the most
routine everyday activities that others take for granted."

Peter T. Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Reeve Foundation remarked, "We
are thrilled Matthew will be running the ING New York City Marathon this fall
with other members of Team Reeve to raise awareness and funds for the Reeve
Foundation's critical mission. Through support of ground-breaking research,
education, and advocacy, the Reeve Foundation is racing toward the finish
line: finding a cure for paralysis."

Wilderotter continued, "On March 9, 2009, when President Obama rescinded the
ban on federally funded stem cell research, he referenced the poem that hung
as a sign on the wall of Christopher Reeve's exercise room, which read, 'For
everyone who thought I couldn't do it. For everyone who thought I shouldn't do
it. For everyone who said I didn't have it in me. See you at the finish line.'
Matthew Reeve will cross that finish line on behalf of his father and the
millions of people who deserve care and cure."

"Matthew's decision to run in the ING New York City Marathon epitomizes
everything this race is all about: the triumph of the human spirit against all
odds," said Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners and
race director of the ING New York City Marathon. "The first Sunday in November
is always an uplifting day, and we're thrilled to join Matthew in celebrating
his first race in New York."

Sharing his father's creative spirit, working as a producer and director,
Matthew plays an active role at the Reeve Foundation. In addition to serving
on the Board he is also a member of the Quality of Life Committee, which funds
programs across the globe that help people living with paralysis become more
fully integrated members of society. In this role, he follows in the
footsteps of his stepmother, Dana Reeve, by reviewing and selecting grant
requests from non-profit organizations that meet the unique and numerous needs
of people living with disabilities. He also serves on the Foundation's
Executive Committee and co-chairs the Champions Committee, bringing together
young professionals to advance the Reeve Foundation's work.

Matthew will be blogging weekly about his training regimen, which will be
posted on www.ChristopherReeve.org. To support his efforts, please visit
http://TeamReeveNYC09.kintera.org/SeeYouAtTheFinishLine.

About the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord
injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for
people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. For
more information or to join Team Reeve, please visit our website at
www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

About The ING New York City Marathon
The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is
one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 105,000 applicants.
Since the inception of the official charity program in 2006, more than 13,600
runners have raised over $49.2 million. The race attracts many world-class
professional athletes, not only for the more than $500,000 in prize money, but
also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two
million cheering spectators and 312 million worldwide television viewers. As
any one of the 672,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line
in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more
information, visit www.ingnycmarathon.org.

SOURCE Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

Maggie F. Goldberg of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, +1-800-225-0292
ext. 7115, media@ChristopherReeve.org