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SEPTEMBER 2019 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 13 COMMUNITY k For the past 10 years, the Leap Towards A Cure hockey tournament has been a summer staple in Laurel, Md. What started as a tribute to a beloved high school teacher has grown by leaps and bounds. Over the past decade the tournament has raised nearly $190,000 for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Two former students, Jason Harab and Abram Fox, started the tournament in honor of Andrea 'Froggy' Henderson, an art teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md., who passed away from breast cancer in 2009. Over the years Harab and Fox have recruited teams to play in a round-robin tournament that quickly morphed into a free community festival with food, arts and crafts for kids, an open skate and other festivities. This year's event was held Aug. 1-4 at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, Md. "While Froggy was a huge supporter of the Roosevelt hockey team, she would also proudly proclaim her complete lack of knowledge of all things hockey," said Fox, a long-time rec league player. "She made our team possible because she knew she was dealing with students with enough passion and focus to make it worthwhile, not because she had any personal stake in the sport." Past events have included former NHL players along with members of the USA Warriors hockey team, and Olympic gold medalist and NWHL player Haley Skarupa. Henderson was more than just a high school art teacher and hockey team sponsor. She was an inspiration to so many, including comedian Martin Lawrence, ERHS class of 1984 alum, who credited Henderson with helping him get his comedy career off the ground by encouraging him to go to comedy clubs to learn how to perform. Md. Hockey Tournament A Fitting Tribute To Beloved Teacher "[Froggy] made our team possible because she knew she was dealing with students with enough passion and focus to make it worthwhile, not because she had any stake in the sport." —ABRAM FOX G A I L K E I T H Parent / Pineville Falcons Pineville, NC "This program has totally motivated my son to beat his best. Thumbs up! He loves the feedback it provides. Happy son = happy parents." www.ThePowerPlayer.com © 2019 The PowerPlayer Inc. Screen images simulated. TPP_USAHM_AUG_PRINT_080719_1815.indd 1 8/7/19 6:18 PM