Kaiyapalooza Tonight: The Ramapo Family Rallies Around Coach’s Daughter

To say Ramapo hockey coach Lee Barber is emotionally invested in Raider hockey games would be an understatement. Barber has scaled the plexi-glass behind the bench to get his point across to a referee, and is not beyond engaging in a heated dialogue with opposing coaches during games either.

Apparently, that all pales in comparison to the emotion he shows interacting with his 6-year-old daughter, Kaiya, on a daily basis.

That will be evident to all those who attend the second annual Kaiyapalooza, a fundraiser for his six-year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy. The event will take place on tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ramapo High School.

"To see coach Barber and his wife, Jill, with Kaiya is truly inspriring,” said event coordinator Jeff Peters, a 2010 graduate of Ramapo, who played under Barber on the hockey team. “The care and the love they show her is so heartwarming—it’s a wonderful lesson for us all on how we should all live our lives.”

Admission to Kaiyapalooza is $10 for adults and children, and includes food, and a performance by magician Will Fern. All proceeds go towards Kaiya’s medical care and therapies.

The success of the event relies heavily on the generosity of the community, and local businesses, and event sponsorships of $1,000 are being sought, as are other donations and raffle prizes.

All donations will be recognized in event program, and sponsors will be included on the back of event t-shirts, which will be for sale.

Kaiyapalooza, along with its sister event, the Kaiya’s Cup (a hockey game between Ramapo and its crosstown rival Indian Hills), have made a huge difference in Kaiya’s life.

“Myself and numerous other Ramapo graduates and students have dedicated ourselves to both spread awareness of the cause and to raise money to assist the Barber family with the financial burdens that coincide with the treatment and therapy,” added Peters. “We are glad to support the Barbers, because we know they’d be first in line to help any one of us.”

Although the Barbers were told weeks into Kaiya’s life that she would never leave a wheelchair, Kaiya defied all odds by taking her first steps as a four year old, and now walks without the use of a walker. Her parents are optimistic Kaiya will soon begin speaking.

“Kaiya has come so far and taught us so much about what is important in life,” wrote Barber, a popular math teacher at Ramapo, who also has twin boys, Brody and Ty, on the event’s website. “Our daughter keeps us grounded and reminds us how important it is to treasure every moment and to never give up. With every step that Kaiya takes, she defies the predictions of her doctors, and shows us anything is possible if you have determination, will and the support of loved ones.”

Even without spoken words, the Barbers insist her reaction to what’s said shows Kaiya understands what’s being communicated to her—and is unquestionably aware that this event is her special night. She’ll be surrounded by her extended family of guardian angels, all of whom have embraced her cause as their own.

Concludes Barber: “The saying, `it takes a village’ to raise a child is so very true, and we thank all of you for your love, support, prayers, and generosity.”

Please contact 2010 Ramapo graduate Jeff Peters at jeff@careforkaiya.com or access www.careforkaiya.com for further information.