In a May 7 cycling race, Matthew Wittig-a dearly-loved member of the UW-Madison cycling teams-crashed and sustained the injuries that would lead to his death on May 12.
Wittig's involvement in the cycling community was an enormous part of his life.
\It's not often in life that someone figures out their passion ... when other kids were buying cars, Matt bought a bike with his own money,"" Matt's mother Sue Wittig said.
According to teammates, Matt was a smart and driven racer who rode like a veteran.
""Last year he won the Wheels on Willy race here in Madison ... he broke away from the pack and basically won the race by himself,"" UW-Madison senior and cycling club president Steven Knurr said.
Knurr recalled that less than a year before the May 7 crash, Wittig was involved in a similar accident, in which he sustained brain damage but was able to work his way to recovery.
When Matt took his final fall, the cycling community was devastated.
""Matt was a really important guy to a lot of people ...When he died it was like a lot of people lost a big or little brother,"" Knurr said. ""We lost such a great guy; it was just surreal.""
Although they were shaken, cyclists raced on and the rules of racing remained as they were before Matt's accident.
""It's such a one-in-a-million accident and you can't really make a rule about that,"" Knurr said, ""[Racers] should keep being strong and keep racing because it's so unlikely that it will happen again.""
After Matt, a registered organ donor, was taken off life support May 12, his organs saved the lives of five different people, Sue Wittig said.
In addition to this living tribute, Wittig's friends and family created a scholarship and memorial fund in his name.
""You hate to see a friend of yours die,"" fellow cyclist and UW-Madison graduate student Jeff Rose said. ""This is the least you can do to pay tribute.""
Fundraising efforts are underway to finance the Matthew James Wittig Cycling Scholarship.
""We're shooting for $10,500 minimum and we're at about 60 percent right now,"" Rose said.
Each year, the UW Foundation, along with the cycling club and Wittig's friends and relatives, plan to award the scholarship to a UW-Madison cyclist.
""We want to make a fitting and awesome tribute to Matt,"" Knurr said.
Matt's friends and family said they will remember him for the character he demonstrated in life.
""He was always true to himself and us,"" Sue Wittig said. ""He just had a good spirit and heart.""
To make a donation to the Matthew James Wittig Cycling Scholarship, send checks to:
Matthew James Wittig Cycling Scholarship
C/O Jeff Rose
1339 Rutledge St.
Apt. 1
Madison WI, 53703
