So, I’m sitting at the rink and the cutest, bright eyed, little 5 year old boy comes bouncing up next to me and tells me what a great hockey player he is. I amazed him by showing him a hockey bracelet I am wearing. It doesn’t take much to impress men, at any age I tell ‘ya. He was shocked I liked hockey too, so we start talking more. Jared Boll is his favorite player. ”Why?” I ask. “Because I met him.” Solid answer. I tell him my screen saver on my cell phone was of Jared Boll and myself and his eyes are as big as saucers. His is really impressed at this point. I tell him my nine year old plays hockey. He casually asks, “For who?” I say, “The Blue Jackets.” Now, I have his complete attention. But before I can let it go any further and watch his little mind work any harder than it already was at that moment, I explain that my little boy doesn’t play for the big Blue Jackets, but a smaller Blue Jackets team, but hopes to be a big Blue Jacket one day. I am sure you’ll all be shocked to hear that this little boy wants to grow up to play hockey too.
But there’s alot more to this story. Sully is the wide eye hockey wonder I met this morning at the rink waiting for his Dad to finish up a game of hockey. At the age of 6 months, Sully was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, a form of kidney cancer. He under went surgery to remove one of his kidneys, along with the softball size tumor. Sully then endured several months of chemotheraphy. In March of 2006, Sully had a recurrance of his cancer and again underwent chemo and also this time radiation as well.
In August of 2004, Sully’s Dad, Joe, and a group of other amateur hockey players from the Columbus area approached the Blue Jackets about doing a charity hockey game to raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research and thus was born Hats for Heroes, a well known Blue Jackets Foundation charity event. Their first game was in November of 2004 and then they had a huge Hats for Heroes event in August of 2006. Such NHL stars as Rick Nash, Jody Shelley, Tyler Wright, Eric Lindros, Pascal LeClaire, Dan Fritsche
Sully and his dad Joe with their Jersey Pillow
and many more came out and showed their support for this event. Hats for Heroes saw many dollars raised for Pediatric Cancer Research and many hearts softened for the children who fight this fight far too often.
For Christmas this year Joe had his own Hats for Heroes jersey he worn during the 2006 game turned into a Jersey Pillow for his son Sully! How proud Jersey Pillows was to be a part of that gift! Sully loves his Jersey Pillow and drags it with his all over the place. It will always remind him of the love and determination his parents have for him and all other children facing the fight against pediatric cancer. Jersey Pillows is proud to know such an inspiring kid!
Check out our testimonials from other Jersey Pillow customers who have taken their jerseys and “STUFFED IT!”
