By LIAM BELAN
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Anthony “Tony” Isaac Cookloved many things, including the holiday season and playing basketball. And, he especially loved basketball shoes.
This year, the TONYSTRONG Foundation established Tony’s Christmas Kicks Shoe Drive as a way to honor the teen’s legacy and provide some holiday cheer for students who are following in Tony’s footsteps as positive role models.
On Wednesday morning, the Christmas Kicks Shoe Drive delivered Christmas cheer at South Allegheny High School, where Tony attended school.
At just 9-months-old, he was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a condition that caused him chronic pain and visible tumors. A malignancy was first detected in 2019, and, after chemotherapy, radiation and months of remission, the cancer returned. Tony died at age 16 on Aug. 8, 2021, just before his junior year at South Allegheny High School.
Wednesday’s event is just one the TONYSTRONG Foundation holds to celebrate Tony’s legacy. Organizers work with local schools to find students who represent Tony’s values and character to reward them with a pair of shoes of their choice. Tony’s favorite shoes were Nike Jordans and there was an array of sneaker choices for the students to choose from Wednesday.
In all, 10 South Allegheny students were chosen to receive shoes. Jordan Aiken, Logan Belfiore, Ally and Ava Chizmar, Cody Deliman, Alexia Fait, Sidney Koscevic, Connor Miller, Aaron Walker and Vinny Wirbicki were rewarded with a new pair of shoes.
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