Bringing the cup home for Greg Community rallies around young athlete with rare cancer Members of the senior league MYAA Flyers roller hockey team, who have played together since the age of 5, are pictured with their coaches and the championship cup won in honor of their teammate, Greg Hickman, who was recently diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. MIDDLETOWN- GregHickman, a 14- year-old Middletown resident, has played sports and enjoyed the outdoors his entire young life. Roller hockey was especially an important part of his childhood. Since the age of 5, Greg has been a member of a MYAA's (MiddletownYouthAthleticAssociation) roller hockey team. The same fraternity of boys grew up together playing that sport with Greg's dad, Jerry, and Greg's uncles as their coaches.As a freshman at Middletown High School South (MHSS), he was excited to make the varsity swimteamthis year. Late in his first high school semester, however, life forGreg and his family changed completely when he was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer. His complex medical treatments require almost daily visits toMemorial Sloan-KetteringCancerCenter in New York, and are expected to last a year. This close-knit family with strong community ties soon began to benefit from the kindness and generosity of their community as everyone rallied to keep up Greg's spirits and ease his family's financial burden. "The community has been wonderful," Greg's mother, Kelly, said. "With everything we are going through, it is nice to know so many good people are out there and we are not in it alone." Greg's friend, Brian Heidt, also a freshman atMHSS,was very concernedwith how Greg would be spending his days while his buddies were in school and participating in meets.He had an idea to raisemoney to buy a laptop soGreg could keep in touchwith his friends and keep up with schoolwork. He teamed up with Anne Freiberger, MHSS teacher and adviser to the school's community service club Eagles Helping the Community (EHTC), and the fundraising was kicked into gear. With several fundraisers, the club raised more than $2,500 for Greg's laptop.When it was learned that another charity had provided the laptop, themoney went directly to defray the costs of traveling to and fromNew York City. At the same time, the parents of Greg's roller hockey teammates began to organize fundraisers. Doreen Bussey began selling wristbands that bore the nicknames affectionately given to Greg when he was flying around the roller rink: G-man, G-strong, Gsmooth. Bussey said the hockey parents will hold more fundraisers in the future as Greg and his family's needs continue. "Wewere so distraughtwhenwe learned of his illness and wanted to do something," Bussey said. "His dad just told us to go out and win for Greg." On Jan. 20, theMYAAFlyers did exactly that - winning their league championship for Greg. Upcoming fundraisers include: On Feb. 15, Val's Tavern, 123 E. River Road in Rumson, will host Greg's Day at the Races from 1 to 9 p.m. The day will feature food, drinks and prizes, for $100 per person ($50 to buy G-notes for prizes). More information is available by e-mailing the restaurant at jenncrow@verizon.com. On March 29, the Community Fire House in Leonardo will feature a Steak and Bake fundraiser for Greg. First seating will be 4-6 p.m., and there will be a second seating 7-9 p.m.Cost is $30 .Call the firehouse at (732) 291-2332 for ticket information. Bussey continues to sellwristbands at $3 apiece. They may be ordered by sending a check, made out to Greg Hickman, and mailed to P.O.Box 245, Leonardo,NJ 07737.