Coaches help cure cancer.

When Paul Newcomb received his end-of-season gift for coaching the Green Machine hockey team, he found himself with a large lump in his throat.

Instead of a gift certificate or a trophy, Newcomb was honored with a donation in his name to Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer (CCKC), where the money is used for funding childhood cancer research. Newcomb received a CCKC t-shirt and a certificate, which he proudly displays on his office wall.

In November, the program was also endorsed by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association at its annual conference.

"It was the greatest feeling knowing that the team wanted to help other kids by honoring me;' said Newcomb. "I coach because I love teaching new skills and strong values--and this gift shows that these kids have their hearts in the right place."

CCKC was founded by Grainne and Clay Owen after they lost their 9-year-old son Killian to leukemia in 2003. Killian loved sports and played baseball, basketball and swam--even during his chemotherapy.

"Killian just wanted to be a normal, healthy child," said Killian's mom, Grainne. "Losing him made us realize that we had to raise awareness and money to finance new treatments for kids battling cancer. When we discovered that the doctors have already developed new, more effective treatments that need funding, we knew we had to find a way to help. Youth sports teams can make a huge difference by simply redirecting the money they have already collected for their coaches' gifts. They can help us make Killian's dream come true for other children with cancer."

In the United States, the equivalent of two classrooms full of children are diagnosed with cancer every day--and one in every four of them will not survive.

In just over a year Coaches Curing Kids' Cancer has raised more than $150,000 and more than 1,500 youth sports teams have made donations. The program is expanding nationwide and gaining support from sports organizations whenever they hear about it.

"We believe in keeping donations local. Wherever the money is raised, it is donated to a pediatric cancer center within that state, so the local kids with cancer can have access to the latest cutting edge treatments," said Grainne. "Teams from many different sports throughout the United States are participating."

How It Works:

* Children's sports teams collect the money for their end-of-season coaches' gifts as usual, but the money is donated to Coaches Curing Kids Cancer.

* In return, the team will receive an original CCKC t-shirt and a certificate honoring the coach for their inspiration, which the team presents to them as their gift. Most importantly, the team and the coach have the knowledge that together they are "Helping Kids Kick Cancer"

* To make a donation just visit www. curingkidscancer.org. Donations can be made online or by mail.

"I have never seen so many grown men cry as I have in the last year since we started this program," continued Owen. "This gift means so much more to a coach than any other gift. By paying it forward on behalf of their coach, the children are learning that just by being part of a team each individual has the power to make a difference."

For more information visit the Web site at www.curingkidscancer.org, or e-mail [e-mail].