The Comsewogue High School boys basketball Team recently commemorated their late classmate Jackson Edwards by organizing a toy collection to support the 10th annual Jackson’s Toy Drive. Jackson began the holiday fundraiser while he was being treated for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and, each year since, his family and community have kept his legacy alive. All the toys collected will go to children at local hospitals undergoing treatment for life-threatening illnesses. For their efforts to support the cause, the boys basketball team was featured in the 2023 L.I. Holiday Sports Heroes Challenge.
“Jackson left an immeasurable impact on the Comsewogue community through his optimism, spirit and strength. The boys basketball team, the parents in the team’s Booster club and Coach Sutherland were inspired to support his efforts and spread holiday cheer to children at local hospitals. We’re very proud of their dedication to this selfless cause and grateful to everyone who donated,” said Comsewogue School District Director of Athletics Matteo DeVincenzo.
Jack Edwards was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia when he was six years old and passed away in 2019. He would be graduating Comsewogue High School this year. While he was being treated, he sought to spread holiday joy to those who needed it the most by collecting presents for the other children in the hospital. Since 2013, his family and community has been keeping the toy drive active.
This year, a group of 27 students from the boys Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball teams championed Jackson’s Toy Drive by kicking off their collection at one of their games. They also held raffles and auctioned off door prizes at the game to support the toy drive.
Their efforts caught the attention of the 2023 L.I. Holiday Sports Heroes Challenge, which showcases community service projects led by young athletes across Long Island during the holidays. The basketball team were added to the challenge on its official website, which listed the number of participants as 27, hours donated as 10 and value of time served as $2,282.
Visitors of the website could vote for the winners of the challenge and the top three will receive awards in scholarships or grants. The first-place winning team will receive $3,000, second place will receive $1,500 and third place will receive $500.
To read more about the Comsewogue High School boys basketball Team’s fundraiser and cast a vote, please visit this website.