Touchdowns For Tommy Thursday 7pm
Come out this Thursday to Loudoun County High School for Touchdowns for Tommy, a flag football game featuring former Loudoun County and Park View football players. Proceeds from your ticket purchase will benefit SUDC research.
LEESBURG, VA - For many of you, this column should hit home. As parents, we work hard every day to make a living for our families, to give our kids a better chance at being successful than we had growing up. The long hours and the hard work can sometimes consume your days, and your thoughts. It can also cloud your perspective from time to time.
Sleep can be a secondary thought, and taking time away from the business can be difficult to do. I know, because it is definitely that way with my life. I have two small children, both energetic boys under the age of 5. Their engines never stop from 6am until 6:30pm. My wife, well, let's just say she is ready for some peace and quiet by the time their bed time is nearing.
Every night, my two little guys take their baths, and get ready for bed together, and every night my wife and I take for granted that they will both wake up the next morning, ready to jump into our arms with a big smile.
The truth is, sometimes you can't take that for granted, and there are many families who experience the nightmare that is known as SUDC or (Sudden Unexpected Death In Childhood). Similar to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), SUDC is a diagnosis of exclusion - given when all known and possible causes of death have been ruled out. [By definition, SIDS applies only to the death of babies younger than 12 months, while SUDC victims are past their first birthday whose deaths go unexplained even after an autopsy, a death scene investigation and medical history review.]
SUDC is not new, but it is rare with a reported incidence of 1.2 deaths per 100,000 children, compared to 54 deaths per 100,000 live births for SIDS (United States, 2005). Presently, SUDC cannot be predicted and/or prevented since its cause is unknown. Most SUDC deaths occur between the ages of 1 and 3, but researchers have looked at cases of children as old as 15.
It is every parent's worst fear, and unfortunately it came true for the parents of Tommy Marshall. Tommy went to sleep one night, and never woke up. His unexplained passing has obviously been devastating to his parents, and for those who completely loved and adored him.
There is nothing any of us can say or do to help make the pain of losing Tommy go away for the Marshall family. We are all helpless in that regard. By all accounts, he was a beautiful little person, and did nothing but smile in his time on earth.
This Thursday however, we all have an opportunity to come out and honor Tommy at Loudoun County High School. Cary Vipond, a close friend of Tommy's father, and coach at Loudoun County has organized a flag football game between the Park View and Loudoun County alumni.
The event is open to the public with a $5 admission, and all proceeds go to benefit research for SUDC. Former Park View and County football players are all set to compete in what should be a fun night of entertaining flag football, but a not so good showing of athleticism.
So take a timeout from your busy schedule, bring your kids out, and come watch some Touchdowns for Tommy. Let's show the Marshall family that their community is behind them, and is willing to help support them in this difficult time.
TOUCHDOWNS 4 TOMMY Benefiting SUDC.ORG October 1st, 2009 - 7PM Flag Football - Charity Alumni Game Loudoun County HS vs Park View HS Location: Loudoun County HS Thomas was a happy and wonderful child. At the age of 2, Tommy went to sleep and never woke up. We still do not know why. Since Tommy was over the age of one year; his passing is not considered Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Instead, it belongs to a lesser-known category, Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood (SUDC) which occurs when an apparently healthy child beyond the age of 12 months dies without warning and without a known cause found after a thorough investigation.
Soon after our loss we learned of The SUDC Program, which provided us with crucial support services, information and access to research. The SUDC Program was created in 2001 as part of the CJ Foundation for SIDS. It is the only program in the world devoted solely to supporting families affected by SUDC and advocating for SUDC research to find answers.
While The SUDC Program is making progress, much work remains ahead. We have created this event in memory of Tommy to raise awareness for SUDC and help bring about a future where no family ever has to experience SUDC again. The first annual Touch-downs for Tommy will take place at 7pm on Thursday October 1st, 2009, at Loudoun County High School 415 Dry Mill Road SW Leesburg, VA 20175.
Start: Oct 1 2009 - 7:00pm
End: Oct 1 2009 - 9:00pm
Status: Registration is open
Game Time: 7 PM at LCHS - LCHS Alumni vs. PVHS Alumni
Concessions: 6:00-7:00 (Conc. Set Up) pre-game, 7:00-Close (Conc. Shift 1) during game
Touchdowns for Tommy is a charity flag football game with all proceeds going to SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.) SUDC is the toddler version of SIDS.
Tommy Marshall passed away at age 2 1/2 due to unexplained reasons now classified as SUDC. Tommy is the deceased son of one of my good friends and at T's funeral I said "If there is anything I can do........." There wasn't anything I could do for any of us. The loss of a child is so crushing and I think it is time we take time to celebrate the wonderful gift that is life and recognize how special a child is. Tommy was special and the goal of the game is to:
• Celebrate the life of Tommy Marshall
• Raise $ for SUDC research
• Raise awareness of SUDC
• HAVE FUN WATCHING SOME OLD LC AND PV GUYS UNDER THE LIGHTS!
• Teach our kids to get involved in charity and the communities they live.
Cary Vipond, LCHS Teaching Staff (Social Studies Dept.)
Asst. Coach LCHS Football
cary.vipond@loudoun.k12.va.us
If you are an alumni football player from LCHS or PVHS and would like to participate in this game -or- anyone interested in donating to this cause should contact Cary.
Checks can be made out to the CJ Foundation For SIDS and mailed to:
Cary Vipond
334 Canyon Road
Winchester VA 22602
