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Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial facts for kids

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Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial
Robison, Mathew Stanford FULL MONUMENT.jpg
The grave monument for Matthew Stanford Robison
Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial is located in Utah
Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial
Location in Utah
Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial is located in the United States
Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial
Location in the United States
Coordinates 40°46′37″N 111°51′32″W / 40.77694°N 111.85889°W / 40.77694; -111.85889
Location Salt Lake City Cemetery WEST_6_130_1W
Designer Ernest Robison
Height 9 ft (2.7 m)
Beginning date 21 February 1999
Completion date 2000
Dedicated to Matthew Stanford Robison
Website Ability Found Non-Profit

The Matthew Stanford Robison Memorial is a gravesite marker located in Salt Lake City Cemetery. It was designed by 10 year old Matthew Stanford Robison's father Ernest Robison. Matthews parents decided to make his gravesite a place of joy and inspiration. The memorial depicts a boy standing up from his wheelchair and raising his left hand toward the sky.

Background

Matthew Stanford Robison was born with disabilities on September 23, 1988 in Salt Lake City, Utah to parents Ernest and Anneke Robison. He was not expected to live. The boy did not get enough oxygen at birth and was blind and partially paralyzed, he lived ten years.

The Robisons started a Nonprofit organization called Ability Found in 1993, to help people with disabilities buy equipment. The non-profit helps those with Cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, stroke, cancer and traumatic injuries. The foundation sells replicas of the boy's tombstone memorial.

Matthew's father decided to make a memorial to his son in 2000. The statue on the gravesite depicts Matthew Stanford Robison rising up out of his wheelchair and reaching skyward. The memorial is meant to depict the child in the afterlife free from his earthly afflictions. A photo of the memorial and part of the obituary was shared on Reddit and went viral. The gravesite had been a Utah tourist attraction appearing on several travel websites as a place to visit.

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