St. Raymond reminisces about the 7-year-old Joey Sykes
It was an emotional time last Thursday as St. Raymond School eighth-graders met with Joe and Debbie Sykes, the parents of one of their classmates who died.
The occasion was the kickoff rally that day for the 7th annual Joey Sykes Boys Basketball Tournament, begun to remember Joey and raise money for research into the disease that caused his death.
It was in January 2004 that Joey Sykes died of neuroblastoma cancer at the age of 7 after battling the disease for three-and-a-half years. This is the year that Joey would have graduated with his friends.
“This year is so bittersweet because these eighth-grade kids were Joey's classmates and they completely embraced my son when he was so very sick, and played with him,” said Debbie Sykes, Joey's mother. “They accepted him even when the tumors were on top of his head and behind his eye, and they loved him.
“After he died, adults couldn't even speak. They didn't know what to say, but the kids — the kids embraced both my husband Joe and I. They would come and talk to us, telling us stories. As the years went by, there was always a hug; I would kiss them on the forehead and they would look for that. They kept us going.”
Beth Clifford, an eighth-grader at St. Raymond, recalls play dates and going to school with Joey. “Joey always wanted to just be with his friends. He always brought the mood 10 levels up to make us all so happy and to make whatever we were doing fun.”
Sykes talked of Joey's love for the school and her own love for his classmates.
“My husband and I are going to miss (those kids) terribly. … They are just a great group of kids. They helped us through a lot of the grief together with their families — their families were great, too.”
On Thursday, St. Raymond eighth-graders presented Joe and Debbie Sykes with a framed photo of the St. Raymond Class of 2011 taken from Spirit Day last fall. Joey's classmates also gave the Sykes tournament T-shirts with a tie-dyed rainbow design and the pledge on the back: “We, the Class of 2011, will never forget Joey, our friend in Heaven.”
Coloring in rainbow patterns had been Joey's signature artistic style. The class also made a five-minute video tribute.
The tournament runs through Sunday, Jan. 16. The Gold Tournament, held last weekend, featured basketball teams from St. Anne in Barrington, St. James in Arlington Heights, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, St. Theresa in Palatine, St. Joseph in Mundelein, Holmes and Lincoln junior highs in Mount Prospect and St. Raymond in Mount Prospect.
The Silver Tournament with games starting at 5:30 Thursday through Sunday, features St. Anne, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Joseph, St. Matthias in Northwest Chicago, St. Hubert in Hoffman Estates, St. Theresa, St. James and St. Raymond.
“This year we will have our largest field of teams ever for the Joey Sykes Tournament,” said Bob Nowak, tournament director, referring to the 16 teams scheduled to play. “I think the lasting success of these games year after year speaks to just how great a positive impact Joey's life has had and continues to have on the people in this community.”
The tournament began a year after Joey's death when the seventh-grade students of St. Raymond School met with the Rev. Bernie Pietrzak and proposed a boys basketball tournament honoring their fellow student.
“Joey was a popular boy with a ready smile, a quick joke and a contagious laugh. He was wise beyond his years, and never wanted to miss a day of school and the opportunity to be with his classmates, teachers and friends,” recalled Pietrzak.
Funds raised from entrance fees and concession sales are donated to Bear Necessities and earmarked for neuroblastoma research. The tournament has raised about $4,500 through the years.
“The interesting thing about this tournament is how it came about,” said Debbie Sykes. “The children were the ones who had the idea to honor Joey in this way.
“Joey's attitude was always positive,” Sykes added. “He never gave up. He had this stick-to-it-ness that was really incredible for a boy his age. He lived with joy, exuberance and deep, deep trust in God. The students of St. Raymond loved to be around him. I believe that's what guided the students to propose this tournament. He inspired the children and he inspires all the people who come together to make this tournament happen. I believe he is watching over all of it.”