Monmouth County Man Completes 4x4x48
Challenge to Honor Children Who Died of SUDC
Brian Dragotto, of Tinton Falls, took on the retired Navy SEAL David
TheJournalNJ.com | APRIL 2021 19
Goggin’s 4x4x48 Challenge last month to raise money for
Team Vienna. Through the challenge, Dragotto ran four miles every
four hours for 48 straight hours. Each time slot
Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), making it
extremely personal.
Dragotto is a long-time Team Vienna supporter and
became a 501(c)3 organization in 2019 and was named
after Vienna Carly Savino who tragically died at two
and a half years of age in 2017. She fell asleep while
watching TV in Holmdel and never woke up again. Her
death was categorized as SUDC, a relatively unknown in
the medical community and general public. As a result,
Dr. Denise Wunderler, DO, FAOASM, Vienna’s mother,
founded Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness Inc. and
co-founded The SUDC Coalition.
Dragotto said, “When I heard of this challenge, it
reminded me of the incomprehensible challenge that
parents who have lost a child to SUDC go through every
day.” He mentioned that the only way he was going
to do a race like this was if he could run for a charity.
“Knowing Dr. Denise for years, she has an unstoppable work ethic, and
suffer through such a tragedy.”
Wunderler added, “When Brian told me about this
challenge, I thought it was an incredible idea and was
all for it 100 percent. Many SUDC families have been
deeply touched by his amazing gesture to increase
awareness of SUDC and to honor our kids.”
Before he ran 48 miles in 48 hours, the longest
distance he ever ran was 12 miles. To help him along,
many SUDC families joined live through social media
to express their great appreciation for honoring their
kids, who are between 1 and 18 years old. Dozens of
people cheered him on, made signs, and ran with him
in the cold and wind at Thompson Park in Lincroft that
weekend.
After the last run, Dragotto said, “I attribute completing
it to the love and support I had throughout: the donors,
supporters, my girlfriend Kaylee, and most critical-
Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness exceeded $4,000. Part
of those proceeds were donated to The SUDC Coalition.
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