Erin and Gary Curneen gave birth to their first child, Roy, on December 3, 2014. He was born with a right diaphragmatic hernia. Three weeks later, on Christmas Eve, despite the hard work of the amazing doctors and physicians at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Roy passed away.
Erin and Gary’s gratitude for the CHLA staff as well as their desire to keep the memory of Roy alive prompted them to write a series of children’s books called “Soccer Roy”, using Roy and soccer as a way to teach valuable life lessons. All the proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to CHLA. Erin and Gary commissioned me to illustrate this special book, and I’m honored that I could help their dream become a reality.
Gary, originally from Northern Ireland, is the head women’s soccer coach at California State University Bakersfield. He has written two well-received books on how to coach soccer. Soccer Roy has sold out on Amazon in the UK and reached number one in the children’s sports book category.
You can purchase a copy on Amazon.com to read to your kids and to help out the CHLA.
So many people have been touched by this amazing story, just see these great pictures.
