Thursday, July 17, 2025
As Stroke Awareness Month draws to a close, a group of dedicated high school students has found a meaningful way to honor the memory of a beloved coach and mentor — through the sport he loved.
On May 30, Bralower Field at the Rockville Centre Sports Complex buzzed with energy as young athletes competed in the inaugural Paul Ellis Memorial Youth Soccer Tournament, an event aimed at raising funds for stroke awareness and prevention. The evening raised $14,000 that will go to the American Stroke Association, according to co-founder Christian Hackett.
The tournament was organized by Hackett, Lachlan Stack, Declan O’Toole and Luca Suarez, four former players in the Rockville Centre Soccer Club, who founded the Paul Ellis Foundation following Ellis’ sudden death in November 2024. Ellis, a Sayville resident and native of Leeds, England, died unexpectedly at age 58 after suffering a stroke.
Just weeks after his passing, the students established the nonprofit foundation in his honor, with a mission to support the American Stroke Association through education, advocacy and fundraising for stroke research and prevention.
Entry fees and community donations were the primary sources of fundraising. Hackett said it was a $30 entry fee for kids to participate, and that’s where most of the money came from, along with donations from sponsors who participated in organizing the event.
The community response has been overwhelmingly supportive. Suarez’s mother, Kristen Stucchio-Suarez, expressed her pride in the organizers.
“It’s been amazing to see them take initiative and really think out the entire project from start to finish,” she said. “We’re all very proud of them, especially because they really did love their coach so much, and the fact that they even fought to do something like this really is a testament to the great kids that they are.”
The event included two sessions, the first for boys in grades 3 to 5 and girls in grades 3 to 6 in the morning and the second for kids in grades 7 to 8. High school students and soccer players volunteered for the evening and guided kids through playing soccer games and learning drills.
“There’s an element of older athletes and former younger athletes and of having fun,” Hackett said.
Looking ahead, the students hope this becomes an annual tradition.
“We know that we’re going to try to continue this event as long as we can,” Hackett said. “So this is not just a one-year thing.”
To learn more about the foundation, visit PaulEllisFoundation2425.com.
