KICKIN' IT

The Hauppauge School District community recently rallied to support the 8th Annual Kicks for Cancer fundraiser. The event raised more than $32,000 through community donations; raffles; and sales of t-shirts, hoodies, bracelets, sunglasses, lanyards, bracelets, blankets and hats. Kicks for Cancer is named in memory of Courtney Tomkin – a former Hauppauge High School student and soccer player who lost her valiant battle against brain cancer in 2008.

Kicks for Cancer has donated more than $200,000 over the past seven years to various charities, including: the Making Headway Foundation, the American Cancer Society – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the American Lung Association, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Courtney Tomkin Scholarship Fund. Launched at Hauppauge School District in 2008, today more than 40 schools in Suffolk County run their own Kicks for Cancer game through the Suffolk County Girls Soccer Coaches Association (SCGSCA).

Following is an excerpt from Courtney Tomkin’s family describing what this special annual event means to them.

“Courtney was like everyone’s child. She was 16 years old in the spring of her 11th grade year. She was funny, smart, loving, kind, sassy and at times difficult like any other 16-year-old girl in her parent’s minds. She was fine one day and the next day complained of difficulty with her eyesight. Courtney offered no other complaints – no headache, no fever and no weakness. She was enjoying being a teenage girl and living her life. We sought immediate care only to be told after an MRI that Courtney had an inoperable brain tumor of the brain stem (DIPG). Wow…how do you tell your child that news? …How do you find the right hospital, the right doctors, when you know that your child and your family are facing the largest battle they have ever fought? Telling our child that she had a rare inoperable tumor, and one that had a poor prognosis, was one of the worst days of our lives as parents. What parents wouldn’t ask God to please spare their child and take it on themselves to fight? We don’t – as parents and families – get to do this. … Our daughter was so brave and fierce and she inspired all that knew her to go through experimental treatments, so that if there was any chance she could live, she would have given it her best shot. We, and our other four daughters, were amazed every day by Courtney’s courage and strength. She fought for nine months and, unfortunately like all DIPG kids before her, at age 17 and in her senior year, did not win the battle against this disease. Courtney may have left this life that we all know, but what she left is a legacy of good will, kindness and of making people believe in themselves to be the best person they can be. As a family, we are very involved in the healthcare system (doctor, nurse, pharmacist) and often in the work we do we meet many families afflicted with a diagnosis of cancer. We never thought that the most incredible lessons we would learn in our careers would be from our daughter and sister. Courtney made us a better family and there is not a day goes by that any one of us doesn’t think of her, miss her, love her tremendously and wish that she was with us still. She taught us how precious, short and important our lives are.”

“Kicks for Cancer is an incredible event developed by Jesseca Kulesa and the Hauppauge Girls Varsity Soccer Team (HGVS) and has existed since 2008. Kicks for Cancer, however, isn’t just about our daughter Courtney Tomkin. It is for every family in our community to share in and celebrate their families who have struggled and won, who are battling or who have lost to cancer. Who doesn’t know a family or friend that hasn’t been devastated by a diagnosis of cancer no matter what type? So on October 16, 2015 at Hauppauge High School, we celebrated Courtney and all those who struggle with cancer, who are battling cancer and for those who have been victorious in beating cancer’s butt!!! May someday – through research and funding – we be a world that is cancer free!!!!!”

“I was blown away by the support we received from our parents this year,” stated Jesseca Kulesa, Hauppauge’s Girls Varsity Soccer coach and Kicks for Cancer coordinator. “They have really taken hold of this event to make it bigger and better every year. I cannot thank them enough for all of the time and effort they have put into the planning of Kicks for Cancer.”

Photos by Juliette Koronkiewicz and Frank Bayer.