This essay was the second-place winner in a contest of over 25 area hockey players put together by South Coast Sport and Consignment.  The $500 will go towards the Roche's hockey tuition for next year's season.

Hockey is my favorite sport. My great uncle Kevin played and my Uncle James played and so did my Dad. Now I am playing and soon my little brother is going to join the cycle also. I really enjoy it because it’s not boring or slow. I get to play it with my friends and I get to make new ones. It is great exercise and its physical but fair. No one gets left out because it’s a team sport.

I am an eleven year old boy and I struggle with my weight. I get picked on at school because of it. I don’t let that stop me from playing though. On the outside you would think I'm a normal kid. You wouldn’t know my mom has cancer. But on the inside I am really upset. Some of my best friends don’t even know my mom is sick.

Someday I would like to see a tournament to raise money for breast cancer. Some of the money could go to find a cure, and some of the money could go to families that have a hard time paying for equipment or sign ups. This would a great thing to help people like my Mom and Dad.

Thank you,

Brian Roche