FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Just as loss can echo throughout a community, so too can hope. On Aug. 23, hope will sound like cleats on grass, the breathing of athletes exerting themselves, the smack of laces on leather, and the enthusiastic cheers of victory. These sounds will be heard from sunrise to sunset during the Graeme Preston Memorial Soccer Marathon and reverberate long after in the hearts of participants.
Freehold Township resident Mia O’Brien, 15, who is a Girl Scout working toward her Silver award, is organizing the event. All donations will benefit the Graeme Preston Foundation for Life, a charity started by Graeme’s family after the youngster’s death this past spring.
Mia, who will be a sophomore this fall at Freehold Township High School, was one of many people left grieving after Graeme’s death on March 3. Graeme and a friend, Kevin Clawson, were struck and killed by a van on Bar Harbor Road in the late afternoon hours. Both were students at the Eisenhower Middle School.
“It hurt to lose him,” Mia said of Graeme, “as it hurt the whole soccer community.”
Mia and Graeme met and became friends through their love for soccer. Mia had just joined the Freehold Comets, a travel soccer team, of which Graeme’s father had become head coach and Graeme’s sister was also a player.
Sometimes being the new player on a team is not easy, and while Mia adjusted to her new teammates, Graeme was always at her side, encouraging and welcoming her.
“He was my buddy,” she added.
According to Mia, being a goalie also separated her from the other players on the team.
“When the other positions would run sprints or drills, Graeme would run goalie drills with me,” she said.
The idea for a soccer marathon in Graeme’s honor was inspired by a golf tournament that was organized by Mia’s uncle after he lost a fellow player.
“Once I saw his trophy from the tournament, I knew what I wanted to do,” she said of her decision to host an event that will benefit the Graeme Preston Foundation for Life.
The Aug. 23 soccer marathon will be held at Opatut Park, East Freehold Road and Route 79, Freehold Township, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and include attractions for soccer enthusiasts and those just looking for fun.
Tony Meola, a former goalie for the U.S. Men’s National Team, will be present, as well as members from Jersey Sky Blue, the New Jersey women’s professional team.
Mia is expecting between 30 and 40 teams to be present at the event. With 11 players per team, there should be hundreds of soccer fans in attendance. There will also be prizes, food, and music. Team registration for the event will end on July 31. Further details can be found at http://www.freeholdsoccer.com/gp-soccer/ home.htm.
The final game of the day will involve the rivalry between the Freehold Borough and Freehold Township high school girls soccer teams, but with a twist: the players from the two schools will be mixed and then divided into teams. Players will be passing to one-time rivals and competing against teammates in a unique match to promote community integration and cooperation.
Mia said organizing the event has, of course, been a lot of work, but said everyone has been extremely supportive.
“Many people ask if this is hard on me emotionally, but I am really enjoying it. It brings back good memories of Graeme and a better perception of what Freehold is all about,” she said.
One hardship Mia reported as she organizes the soccer marathon is finding available referees. Aug. 23 is a popular weekend for soccer tournaments and many referees are already engaged. Anyone who is interested in helping out as a referee may contact the Freehold Township Parks and Recreation Department.
“Sure, Graeme always wanted to win,” Mia reflected, “but no matter the outcome, he was just happy to be on the pitch.”