Meet the 2018 Xtra MileBoston Marathon Team helping us to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics Movement by running 26.2 miles for inclusion!

This year, we are very proud to have two Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes on our team. One of those athletes is Matt Millett who competes with the Shrewsbury local program.

Matt has been involved with Special Olympics Massachusetts since 1998 when he started participating in basketball after high school. Since then, he has become a multi-sport athlete competing softball, volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Throughout his involvement with Special Olympics Massachusetts, Matt has had the opportunity to demonstrate his athletic skills and abilities by competing on a statewide, nationwide, and worldwide stage. In 2016 and 2017, Matt was a member of the Major League Soccer (MLS)New England Revolution Unified Soccer team. As a member of this team, he competed against other MLS Unified teams at the Revs home field, Gillette Stadium, as well as other MLS stadiums around the country like Toyota Park in Chicago. In 2010, Matt was also invited to represent Special Olympics at the World Cup in South Africa where he played in a Unified match there as well.

But Matt isn't finished adding to his athletic resume just yet. This July Matt and the rest of the Shrewsbury basketball team will travel to Seattle, Washington to compete at the Special Olympics USA Games as members of Team Massachusetts. From there, Matt and the team will travel to Abu Dhabi in 2019 where they will compete at the Special Olympics World Games as the only basketball team representing the United States for Special Olympics USA.

A part from his countless athletic accomplishments, Matt has continued his involvement off the playing field by becoming a member of the Special Olympics Massachusetts Board of Directors. One of his roles as a member of the board is to sit on the United States Athlete Input Council as the New England Representative. ''I work with athletes from across the country to provide feedback and help move Special Olympics forward" As an Athlete Leader, I know I can inspire others and help make our Movement even stronger!"

Matt is one of 26 runners on our Boston Marathon team who's not only making a difference in the lives of our athletes in 2018, but will have a lasting impact on Special Olympics Massachusetts that will ensure our movement and organization continue to support the athletes of today and tomorrow as we look forward towards the next 50 years of sports opportunities and inclusion!

Read on to learn more about Matt!

Where did you grow up?

‍''I grew up in Millbury, MA"

‍What do you do for work? How does this influence your experience with Special Olympics?

''I work as an Institute Security Officer at the Department of Youth Services. It influence my experience with Special Olympics by realizing everyone is different and to treat everyone equally."

‍Do you have a motto?

‍''I love the Special Olympics motto of ''Let me Win, but if I cannot win, Let me be brave in the attempt."

‍What's the craziest thing on your bucket list? What on your bucket list that you've done that you are most proud of?

''My top item on my bucket list is to run the Boston Marathon ! My other crazy bucket list would be to hike called Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon. My most proud bucket list item was hiking Mt. Whitney this past September with my friend Mike because it took a few months of training and was a 22 mile hike. It was a great experience and realized I could push myself more than I thought."

‍What does Special Olympics mean to you?

‍''Special Olympics means to me is acceptance, inclusion and having fun. It means you are able to play with anyone and able to play on any field you want. Special Olympics also helps athletes gain self-esteem by allowing them to play sports and allowing them to express their thoughts."

‍Have you ran a marathon before?

‍''I haven't run a marathon yet, I was saving myself for the best one out there! I have completed a number of half marathons and I am ready to take the next step."

‍What made you decide to run the Boston Marathon?

‍''To challenge myself and to show Special Olympics athletes can take on any challenge"
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‍What motivates you to go running when you really don't feel like it?

‍''I am trying to better myself and my fellow athletes so I run when I don't feel like because I know my friends face challenges every day too."

‍SUPPORT MATT IN HIS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TODAY!