Smile Like Sully, Give Like Sully

A couple months ago the boy who touched so many of our lives for the better left our presence. He lives on in our hearts through his memory of smiling through his pain and always choosing joy even when he had every reason not to. 

As a friend to Navy Sports, Sully was supposed to be inspired by its athletes. Instead, we were inspired by him. Starting off with Navy Sprint, Sully quickly became a three sport athlete, pairing up with Men’s Basketball and Women’s Lacrosse. He’s remembered by the community for his relentless support, his incredible wisdom, and his genuine love for the players.

In his two bouts against cancer, Sully continued to remind us that in life we choose how we deal with adversity. And that few of us have it nearly as difficult as we may sometimes think. That in the end, inspiration can be simple; rendered through a well timed joke, a blunt statement on the truth of a situation, or unselfishness when all that can be expected is caring for one’s self. 

In the end, Sully left this world far too soon. But in his time, he made an impact that few of us will achieve in our lifetimes. 

Today and through the holidays, we are fundraising in his honor. The funds will be directly donated to the Smile Like Sully Foundation, which was recently created by his parents in his honor to advocate for better treatment and spread awareness on childhood cancer. A small portion of these funds will be used to create a memorial plaque in his honor to be placed in the locker rooms he came to love.

To find more details or donate directly, visit https://www.smilelikesully.org/ where you can explore some of the magical life Sully lived. Visit @smilelikesully on Instagram to see his journey over the years.