Hundreds of children turned out for an annual soccer tournament Sunday in Carbon County all to raise money in memory of a little boy who killed in a crash.
With handshakes and a pre-game cheer teams took the field for the third annual Hunter Meckes Memorial Soccer Tournament in Lehighton.
Hunter was just five-years-old when he was killed in a car accident seven years ago and soccer was his passion.
"He loved soccer. He just loved life. He was the happiest kid. He just loved people, loved being active and loved this brother. He was a real sweet boy," said Hunter's mother, Sherry Meckes.
More than 50 teams with kids of all ages played to raise money for scholarships in Hunter's name.
Those who knew Hunter said the tournament was the perfect tribute to a little boy they believe was watching from above.
"If Hunter could be here he would be amazed. He was the greatest little boy and such a huge loss and a waste, but he would love this. He would be wanting to play," said family friend Sherry Smith.
Hunter would have turned 13 last Friday. The soccer tournament is held every year close to his birthday as a way to honor him and the game he loved.
Even Hunter's younger brother Shane was playing for him. Shane said his brother was a great kid.
"We continue to do this every year because he loved soccer even though he was only five-years-old and we figure this way we can keep his memory alive," added Sherry Meckes.
Organizers hoped to raise more than $6,000 for two scholarships in Hunter's memory at both Jim Thorpe and Lehighton high schools.
With handshakes and a pre-game cheer teams took the field for the third annual Hunter Meckes Memorial Soccer Tournament in Lehighton.
Hunter was just five-years-old when he was killed in a car accident seven years ago and soccer was his passion.
"He loved soccer. He just loved life. He was the happiest kid. He just loved people, loved being active and loved this brother. He was a real sweet boy," said Hunter's mother, Sherry Meckes.
More than 50 teams with kids of all ages played to raise money for scholarships in Hunter's name.
Those who knew Hunter said the tournament was the perfect tribute to a little boy they believe was watching from above.
"If Hunter could be here he would be amazed. He was the greatest little boy and such a huge loss and a waste, but he would love this. He would be wanting to play," said family friend Sherry Smith.
Hunter would have turned 13 last Friday. The soccer tournament is held every year close to his birthday as a way to honor him and the game he loved.
Even Hunter's younger brother Shane was playing for him. Shane said his brother was a great kid.
"We continue to do this every year because he loved soccer even though he was only five-years-old and we figure this way we can keep his memory alive," added Sherry Meckes.
Organizers hoped to raise more than $6,000 for two scholarships in Hunter's memory at both Jim Thorpe and Lehighton high schools.
