Hi Everyone,
Today’s the day.
April 17th.
The day we learned Tommy would never wake up.
I think about him every day so I’m not sure why this one still hits deeper. It just does.
While I used to plan some type of public gathering on this day with friends and family, I now usually spend it doing what he loved the most.
Some years I head to Hermosa Beach and just sit in our favorite spot reflecting on our time together. Other years, I plan for a lot of self-care, filling the day with yoga, lunch with a friend, a visit to one of Tommy’s Fields, and maybe even an appointment with a psychic or energy healer who helps me connect to him.
What I never fail to do is light a candle and hope he sees it.
But what lifts me the most this time of year, is a youth soccer tournament on Tommy’s Field in Westwood that the TM23 Foundation hosts to honor his life and serve the soccer community he loved.
We host it on Mother’s Day because his birthday falls on or around that day every year and well, let’s face it, Mother’s Day is yet another tough one for me and many other families. So together, hundreds of us play our way through it.
Some of you receive our TM23 Foundation newsletters. Many of you don’t. So, I’m forwarding just this latest one to you below so you can see how Tommy’s spirit of play continues to impact my heart and the city he loved.
If you want to get involved in some way, great. I’d love that. But that’s not why I’m forwarding this to you.
I’m really sending it because Tommy was the kind of kid who’d want everyone thinking of him a little extra today, and I can’t help but feel him smiling knowing that his memory continues to live on in meaningful ways. 🌹
Thank you for allowing me to share him with you.
Today marks eight years since Tommy passed away, and with your love and support we continue to honor him in ways we think he’d love.
With that said… it’s that time again:
Mother’s Day is around the corner and we are hosting our 4th annual TM23 Community Cup on Tommy’s Field – Westwood!
This means we’ve got 250 boys and girls (ages 8-12) coming from across the city with their families to engage in a friendly soccer competition, listen to music, eat ice cream, paint rocks, honor our mothers, and so much more! ⚽️🍦🌹
If you are in Los Angeles on May 10th, please drop in between 9 am and 4 pm and add to the fun!
If you feel inspired to sponsor a team this year so all players have equal access to play, we’d LOVE it. We have 24 teams to cover at $1000 each and they are worth every penny.
You can donate by clicking this link: https://tm23foundation.org/donate
Any and all donation amounts are so appreciated and all funds raised from this year’s event are being put toward a fund to refurbish and maintain Tommy’s Field – Westwood in perpetuity. So, it’s not only a fun day, but a great cause that continues to honor our Tommy and brighten our world with his spirit of play.
Thank you again for loving Tommy, supporting TM23 and being a part of our extended family.
❤️
Nikki & Doug
P.S. Please enjoy the video recap below from last year’s tournament. Also note the special shout-out below to LaReine Chabut and “Momgevity” for the generous check that helped us close funding on Tommy’s Field – Boyle Heights—coming this December. ❣️
