The table-leading Connecticut Wildcats look to recapture the Championship form that escaped them in last year’s Grand Final when they battle the Glen Mills Bulls in the long-awaited round 4 clash on June 18, 2005 @ 2:00 p.m. The two Rugby League teams have been asked to make a guest appearance at the Jo Jo Moore Rugby Tournament held every year in Peekskill, New York.

Who is Matt Moore

Matthew “JoJo” Moore spent 34 years as a teacher and coach in the Peekskill, New York School District prior to his retirement in 2003. He is a C-4 level quadriplegic, completely paralyzed from the neck down.

What Happened

Matt was injured in a freak collision during a rugby match in 1991. He was rushed to United Hospital in Port Chester, NY, and subsequently to Yale New Haven Hospital by helicopter.

After the Accident

After 2 years of difficult rehabilitation, showing extraordinary courage and determination, Jo Jo returned to full time teaching in 1994. For the next nine years, until his retirement in 2003, Matt worked as a teacher and coach. His accomplishments are incredible considering his handicap and include raising four daughters, volunteering to help other handicap victims and earning a Masters Degree at the University of Bridgeport.

Threatened Loss of Benefits

Matt requires twenty-four hour care. He has had up to sixteen hours private duty nursing care as an extended benefit allowed by the Joint Governance Board for the Putnam/Northern Westchester Health Benefits Consortium Health Plan. This benefit, together with the extraordinary efforts of his wife and family, have allowed Matt to survive and live some semblance of a normal life.

The Board recently announced that it had decided to reduce substantially Matt’s nursing care beginning July 2005. Eliminating this benefit would have been catastrophic to Matt and his wife Peggy. Matt and Peggy do not have the financial ability to pay for private duty nursing benefits for any length of time. Limiting Matt’s access to qualified nursing care would subject Matt to numerous serious health risks. Without skilled nursing care to assist him in his daily functions, Matt faces constant health complications that threaten his life. This tournament is is designed to raise the funds necessary to provide Matt with the nursing care he needs.

Tournament

The Tournament format is round robin competition with the first kickoff planned for 9:00 AM. Rugby matches continue throughout the day with the highlight games scheduled to begin @ 2:00 PM. Seventeen teams are expected in the following Divisions: Old Boys (over age 40), Club Sides, Under 19’s, All Star Select Side, Club and Rugby League. Teams from the New York / Connecticut / New Jersey area and as far away as Albany and Boston have attended in past.

For information on the tournament and Sponsors, please log onto
www.coachmattmoore.com

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