Orleans/Niagara BOCES Building Trades teacher Matt Anastasi says he will never forget when he became a teacher at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center in 1999. “Scott Brauer, who was the Precision Machining (Project Based Engineering) teacher approached me and offered to mentor me. At the time, there was not a mentoring program at BOCES. I knew Scott to not only be an incredible teacher, but he was a true leader who was compassionate, inspiring and would go to the ends of the earth for his family, friends and students. He was exactly the kind of teacher I wanted to be. In essence he is my idol.” Scott returns the compliment, “Through our years together, Matt has made me want to be a better teacher.”
The two teachers have developed a very strong friendship over the years, sharing the joys and challenges in their lives. Matt talked to Scott about an uncle’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder that causes movement problems, among other health issues. Scott shared with Matt when he was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a type of arthritis, which was devastating news for the avid sportsman.
At Matt’s 50th birthday party, his gift from Scott was a card stating that he had entered them both into the Summer Sizzler Triathlon at Beaver Island State Park in August. The event included a 400-meter swim, an 11-mile bike ride, and a 1.8-mile run. “Well, it wasn’t exactly the birthday gift I was hoping for,” laughs Matt. “But I thought it would be a great challenge and I thought it would be fun to motivate each other over the course of the summer to get in shape.” Scott explains, “I was getting ready to turn 60 and I told him we were going to do this for the people who can’t do this anymore. I wanted to become the best version of me I could for my family, students and church congregation.” Scott is a pastor at his church and very active in his community. “My arthritis can be very debilitating, and it affects my entire body. I have been lucky to have the support of several people on social media that have helped me cope with my diagnosis and offered advice. I wanted to do this for them as well. My mantra was “Not today Ankylosing Spondylitis!”
Scott and Matt did their training separately but would give updates and encouragement through texts and phone calls. Matt says the first thing he did was get a new bike and look into venues where he could swim. “I had not competitively swum since the 7th grade, so I really needed to get in shape,” he says. He would get up every morning with his kids and ride his bike and then run some laps around the neighborhood. “It was awesome, and Scott would give me updates on how fast he was going on his bike rides, and it would motivate me to do better. I kept thinking; he is going to crush me! I have to take it up a notch.” Scott was training hard with the encouragement of his family and friends. “The last triathlon I did was in my twenties. My daughter Maron was one year old and in a stroller that had my number on it. She was there with our family cheering me on this time and made it very clear that if she had to drag me, I was going to make it across the finish line.”
The day of the triathlon the men sported matching jerseys with the people and causes they were honoring. “We had our age written on the back of one leg and our event on the other,” explained Matt. “Let me tell you it was insane. We had to swim through thick seaweed, and I have to admit I totally underestimated how hard it was going to be to run after the bike ride. It was pretty sobering when a 76-year-old woman and her 76-year-old husband passed me,” he laughs. Scott’s doctors urged him not to run and walk instead. “For me it was incredibly emotional and spiritual experience being able to achieve this. It was great having our families there cheering us on,” he says. “I had some trouble getting through part of it and Maron just turned from cheerleader to coach and told me to get my butt moving. We worked so long and hard to do this and it made me feel like nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. I really hope it inspires other people to who think they can’t do this. It was great doing this with Matt and it felt amazing crossing that finish line. I am hoping we can do it again next year. I am sure Matt was thinking this was the worst birthday gift ever!”
Matt calls the experience phenomenal. “It was very emotional for me to watch Scott complete this. I know how hard it was on him, and I told him I would carry him if I had to and he said he knew I would. It was amazing to see him cross that finish line. Watching him do it was very empowering and motivating. It was not about making the best time; it had a much deeper meaning for both of us and that we accomplished it together which was just awesome.”