Number of Participants: 25
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Boys Ice Hockey
School: Oswego High School
Date: January 24, 2023
Location:
Oswego High School
Buccaneer Boulevard, Oswego
NY
About:
At the age of 19, Carter passed away on July 15, 2021 after a courageous battle with Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal cancerous tumors. A rare type of pediatric brain cancer. Carter was a member of the Oswego Buccaneer Varsity hockey team during his senior year of 2018-2019 prior to his diagnosis. Each year since Carter’s passing, the team has honored Carter and raised awareness for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research in an annual CV28 themed game night.
#28 was his hockey number for the Buccaneers. On this night, the team wears commemorative uniforms in honor of Carter and the Vashaw family. Also, all of whom are in attendance are given the opportunity to donate to the CV Strong Giving Page, which supports pediatric brain cancer research at the Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts in honor of Carter Vashaw.
This year the team also honored Carter’s old brother, Austin. Austin was 23 years of age and a graduate of Fulton High School, where he also played high school hockey. Austin always looked after Carter. They shared many friends and always protected one another. During Carter’s eight month battle with cancer, Austin became one of Carter’s primary care takers. After Carter’s passing, Austin struggled with extreme grief and internal struggles. Eight months later, Austin decided to take his own life on April 10, 2022. Therefore in honor of Austin, Carter and the entire Vashaw family, the Bucs decided to honor each of them and raise awareness for both Pediatric Brain Cancer and Mental Health this year. The team wore their commemorative CV28 jerseys and taped their sticks with green tape to represent mental health awareness. Everyone in attendance was also given the opportunity to donate to the CV Strong Giving Page or a grief counseling or mental health awareness charity.
Using the game as a platform to honor the bigger aspects of life is one thing we try to do as a program. Throughout the season, we also do a Teal Night for Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Military and First Responder Appreciation Night, and a Teacher Appreciation Night
