11-year-old raises money for cancer research in memory of his Mimi
BANGOR Anyone can make a difference. That is the message that 11-year-old Tommy Hosmer wants people to walk away with. And he is making a difference.
Tommy understands loss. He understands how so many of us are affected by cancer, because he's already felt the heavy loss of someone he dearly loved, his Mimi who succumbed to ovarian cancer when Tommy was 9. But despite the pain, he's working hard to help others who are still struggling with the terrible disease. One of his first fundraisers was a book sale where he raised more than $3,300 for Cancer Care of Maine, followed the next year by raising $1,200 with a bake sale. But he's wanted to do something consistent something annual and combine his passion for fighting cancer with his passion for sports. So he formed the Team Mimi Annual Softball Tournament, which is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 12 Mother's Day weekend - at the Union Street Athletic Complex.
'It's on Mother's Day weekend because I wanted to honor moms and grandmothers and Mimis,' said Tommy. 'I decided to do a softball tournament because Mimi didn't get a chance to come to a lot of my baseball games because she was so sick.'
Though all the team slots have been filled, Tommy is still looking for donations to help the tournament from the community. Any individuals or businesses who would like to contribute with monetary or raffle donations should post a message on the Team Mimi Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TeamMimisAnnualSoftballTournament.
In addition to the softball tournament, there will be a 50/50 raffle, homerun derby, a prize raffle and snacks. And on his birthday, Tommy plans to participate in the Champion for the Cure Challenge.
'Everyone can make a difference,' Tommy said. 'It's not hard. Even 25 cents can help.'
