TYNGSBOROUGH, MA – For Boston hockey fans, days spent overlooking the ice are some of the best core memories to be made alongside family & friends. Yet for those who came to watch the Boston Bruins Alumni play the New England Stars at Skate 3 Arena in Tyngsborough, the goal was to do more than just have fun: the crowd helped raise nearly $60,000 to support those living with spinal cord injuries.
“They’re doing God’s work as far as people who play contact sports go,” explained Frank Simonetti, who spoke to the impactful work accomplished by the Thomas E. Smith Foundation.
Established in May of 2010, the Thomas E. Smith Foundation was born following a series of paralyzing spinal cord injuries suffered by its founder as he witnessed firsthand the lack of support readily available to those in need.
“I’ve had two separate paralyzing hockey accidents and was involved in a serious car accident,” explains Thomas Smith, who is now a fierce advocate for others. “Through those 18 months, I was so fortunate by the support from the hockey community, many family friends and things like that. Being in the hospital in Boston, I realized that I was in the minority. Not many people had that. So we founded the Thomas E. Smith Foundation to really provide people with that support both financially and emotionally.”
Fourteen years later, the non-profit has stepped up to found four major research projects aimed at finding cure & treatment for individuals living with paralysis – and donated over $1.4 million in resources for those living with the condition that doesn’t discriminate.
“So many people can be impacted by paralysis and it doesn’t discriminate by race, gender, age, sex, or religion,” says Chris Smith, who has been with his brother Tom in his journey every step of the way. “It is 100% something that impacts the entire family.”
What’s the vibe: Get loud for a great cause at one of New England’s favorite skating rinks! Grab a slice, your favorite sharpie and a roll of raffle tickets for a day of family-fun to show your support for those living with spinal cord injuries.
“Everybody thinks about it in the back of their mind when they’re playing hockey or a contact sport,” says Simonetti. “Everybody thinks it’s gonna happen to somebody else, and you never wish it upon anybody for sure when it does, you’re happy that a group like this steps in and helps them out.”
What does living with a spinal cord injury mean? For athletes that have spent their life on playing contact sports, Thomas Smith explains how the daily difference is drastic. “You just look at getting dressed in the morning – for someone with paralysis, that can take a significantly longer time. Driving, if you’re paralyzed from your neck down, it’s obvious that you need to rely on other people. And if you are paralyzed and you can drive, it’s getting the chair out. So it’s an added layer of adversity, and an added layer of challenges that individuals go through but our goal is to make a horrible situation less arduous and hopefully more accessible for individuals with the injury.”
Just like in the game of hockey, the Thomas E. Smith foundation recognizes support for those who have experienced a spinal cord injury needs to act fast.
“To make an impact on day one for someone that’s been hurt is really important,” explains Tucker Mullen, who has been a pillar of support for the nonprofit and well-versed in the immediate needs. “If it’s physical therapy, equipment, just trying to get people what they need as soon as they need it.“
Why is acting fast critical? “There’s a lot of gaps in both the medical system as well as the support system for families,” explains Chris.
During their sixth annual game against the Boston Bruins Alumni, newest board member Jake Tebow who was paralyzed during a hockey game in September of 2021 reflected on his personal journey with the foundation and what he wish more people knew about living with a spinal cord injury.
“When you’re in the paralysis world, it’s a community that a lot of people understand unless you’re in it. No fault of their own, but people need help and the foundation that is built here and the community around the Thomas E. Smith Foundation just shows you that the impact goes further than you can imagine,” he explains. “People need to realize that every spinal cord injury is different, but the person that got injured is the same.”
To learn more about The Thomas E. Smith Foundation, visit their website.
To see more stories like this or if you have an event you’d like to pitch to Emmalyn to cover, email emmalyn@emmalynreid.com.
Emmalyn Reid 