The words “carry on” have been meaningful to me since I lost my dad to brain cancer in 1997. The drive and determination with which he fought his two-year battle left a permanent source of inspiration deep within me. I’m not sure if he realized it at the time, but his desire to “carry on” and live the life he had always lived — coffee, family, baseball, cigarettes, weekends, Abbott, puzzles — despite his disability, had a lasting effect on me. I beam when I tell people how much of a fighter my dad was. And in my own lesser moments of trials and tribulations, I think of my dad and how he persevered through some extremely difficult months. 

My fondness for the phrase has found its way into several of my songs, too. 

Cause it’s a long way down. It’s a long way down.
And there is no way around the mountains before me.
So I’ll carry on.
(Carry On)

And it’s sure to be uncertain.
And for sure it will be hard. 
But we’ll stand up strong and carry on.
Today is the day!
(If We Walk) 

And still the people say, How did you come to play?
And I tell them, It’s easy when inspired by a man’s desire
To survive and carry on.
(All The People Say)

My heart has settled on the fact that we could carry on.
Turn around. Look around and see.
(Falling In Love) 

Emotions never he does hide the day his precious sunflower dies.
Though her battle is not won, he grabs his kids and carries on.
(Excelsior)

My worst day is your each day.
You carry on, say it’s okay.
But deep inside, the voices cry.
Deep inside, you wonder why.
(It’s Time) 

Given all of this, it seems fitting to name this effort the “Carry On Campaign.” After all, it challenges all of us to carry on the mission of the Concert For Life; to carry on the work that began in Gurnee back in 2001 and make it a part of our daily lives. 

- Matt