Massachusetts Boy Shoots 10,000 Hockey Pucks to Raise $10K for Sick Kids

For most kids, playing a sport is simply a hobby, but for one boy from Acushnet, his love of hockey has inspired an entire community.

Meet nine-year-old Jack Leandro: fun-loving son, hockey fanatic and younger brother to his hero, 11-year-old cancer survivor, Sydney.

Inspired by her incredible strength, Jack has taken his passion for hockey and turned it into an incredible fundraiser, making a difference for children facing life-threatening illnesses.

The Origins of the 'Pucks for Bucks' Fundraiser

Pucks for Bucks began in May of 2025 when young Jack decided to raise funds for every goal he scored in his driveway – which ended up being a lot. Jack shot 10,027 pucks, and with $1 donated per puck, he raised more than $10,000. He selected A Wish Come True, Inc. as the charity to support, as it was the organization that granted Sydney’s wish.

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"Through every puck he shoots, Jack honors his sister’s journey, gives back to an organization that helped us as a family and continues to help us and proves that even one child can make an extraordinary impact," Jack's mom Lyndsey said.

Inspired by a Sister’s Brave Battle with Leukemia

It's an impact the Leandro family knows can really make a difference. Their lives were forever changed when, on Easter Sunday 2020, Sydney was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of five. "Sydney’s journey remains the driving force behind Jack’s mission," Lyndsey said.

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Life After Cancer: The Leandro Family Today

Thankfully, Sydney is now more than four years cancer-free. "While the fear never completely disappears for us as her parents, we are grateful to watch Sydney return to being a kid. Return to playing with her brother in the yard again," Lyndsey said. "Moments of illness or migraines can still trigger memories and worries from those difficult years, but seeing Sydney grow, thrive, and enjoy life as an 11-year-old girl is a gift we try like hell to never take for granted."