Point Boro Boy Wins Writing Contest, Prizes From Jets

Aidan Neville, 6, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, has won first place in a National Football League (NFL) writing contest and prizes from two professional football players.

Aidan, who will start second grade at Ocean Road Elementary School in September, received an autographed Jets helmet from Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez, a pair of tickets to an upcoming Jets game and a Wii training camp game.

Aidan was given the helmet by Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith at a recent visit to the borough Board of Education office.

At the January meeting of the Point Pleasant Board of Education, the district gave Aidan a letter from Boomer Esiason in recognition of his participation in the NFL Play 60 contest.

Esiason had played for the Cincinnati Bengals and then the Jets before retiring.

After that, Aidan was named a finalist in the writing contest.

For the contest, Aidan cited Sanchez as one of his inspirations for staying active and healthy.

The NFL Play 60 contest rewards children between the ages of 6-13 who are committed to healthy and active lifestyles.

Entrants were required to answer:
1. Which NFL player(s) inspires you to be fit and why?
2. Using your personal goals, stories, and experiences, tell us how you
and your family stay active and healthy.

Aidan's answers are as follows:
"Question 1: Boomer Esiason, ex-NFL player, inspires me. He has a son, Gunnar, who has the same thing I do called Cystic Fibrosis. Boomer always talks about how important it is to exercise and keep our CF lungs healthy. He shows me that I can do anything even with Cystic Fibrosis.

Mark Sanchez also inspires me. He is a great quarterback and works hard each day to play his best.

Question 2: I like football but I can't play on a team. I dehydrate too quickly and can get very sick. I also get PICC lines for my medication which makes it hard to play football. But I know I have to stay active to help my lungs.

So I play every other sport I can! I play soccer, t-ball, ice skating, basketball, tennis and ride my bike a lot. CF may make it harder at times when I'm sick, but I just keep going. I want to be active so I can live a long, healthy life."

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide), according to the Cystic Fibrosis website.

The website says:

"A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

• clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
• obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school.

Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond."