Dale Scotto, of Freehold, gets her hair cut by salon owner Lawrence Matarese during a cut-a-thon benefit for Millstone Township resident Mike Gaboff, a professional stuntman who sustained life-threatening injuries while performing a stunt in California. SCOTT FRIEDMAN I t has been nearly three months since Mike Gaboff’s near-fatal accident while performing as a stuntman on the set of an online trailer to promote the June DVD release of “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” starring Nicolas Cage. Gaboff, 25, of Millstone Township, sustained life-threatening injuries when the stunt went awry. The stunt involved riding a motorcycle off a ramp equal to the height of a six-story building, catching fire and landing in a lake.
Instead of landing in the lake, Gaboff landed on the ground, on fire. At the end of May, his mother, Sharon Gaboff, said he was non-ambulatory and non-weight-bearing on all four limbs.
Carlos Moraga of Ocean City gets a haircut from Ali Abed during a cut-a-thon benefit for Millstone Township resident Mike Gaboff. The cut-a-thon was held at The Salon at Manalapan by Lawrence Girard, and the proceeds will help Gaboff with medical bills he has incurred since being injured on the job in Los Angeles. SCOTT FRIEDMAN It is a sign of Gaboff’s progress and determination that he was able to attend the “We Play Crazy Cut-A-Thon” benefit that was held for him on July 8 at the Salon at Manalapan by Lawrence Gerard.
We Play Crazy is the name of Gaboff’s production company.
The event raised $866 which will go toward paying some of the uninsured young man’s $1 million in medical bills.
Gaboff is now able to walk with the aid of a cane, but faces a long rehabilitation. He reported that his bones are healing, but he has nerve damage in his arm which his therapist said could take a year to heal.
Mike Gaboff His hand healed incorrectly and the doctor will have to rebreak it, he said, adding that he spends much of his time in physical therapy.
“I’m physically doing better, trying to keep my head up high, but every day is still a struggle,” he said. “It’s one day at a time.”
Gaboff said he is not going to give up, but he said it is difficult to think about how well he was doing in Los Angeles, “and one little stupid job I did put everything back.”
According to Perri Matarese, a hairdresser and longtime friend of Gaboff’s who organized the cut-a-thon along with her dad, the turnout was great.
“I would have to say around 30 or more people came out to show their support, including Mike’s whole family,” she said.
Matarese said she and her father appreciate everyone who made the cut-a-thon possible. This includes their “amazing” staff for donating their time, the food donation from Romeo’s Pizza on 33, and music provided by D.J. JSol.
Matarese also thanked Justin’s Barbershop for sending James and Ali.
When asked for some memories of growing up with “Crazy Mike,” Matarese recalled 2003, their sophomore year at Allentown High School.
“Our good friend John W. Petrella Jr. had passed away, and the week following his passing really showed me what a huge heart Mike Gaboff has,” she said. “When I had heard about Mike’s accident, I flashed back to him comforting John’s close family and friends in their time of need, so I had to do something for him in his time of need.”
Another fundraiser is planned for Gaboff on Aug. 4 from noon to 5 p.m. at Xtreme Machines, 700 Route 33, Millstone. The event will feature a barbecue and motorcycle gear giveaway.