May 8, 2020 by Hilary Jenison (photos courtesy of the Achille Family)
Tony Achille, a Hingham High School Senior, has started a new fundraising campaign – Mission 16 – to raise money for pediatric cancer, a cause that is extremely close to his heart.
When Tony was 15 and a freshman at Hingham High, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He had a visible mass in his neck, which was determined to be cancerous. After months of chemotherapy, he was declared cancer free.
According to Achille, “I knew after my first day at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana Farber that I needed to do something to help support all of the kids there. It’s pretty easy to want to give back to a place that’s so awesome.”
So during this extra time at home, Tony got creative and developed Mission 16 to do just that. According to Tony, “Mission16 is a combination of my mission to pay it forward to the organizations that keep me motivated and gave me reasons to smile when I was sick.”
He is currently selling Mission 16 merchandise to raise money for the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana Farber. He also plans to support other organizations that help pediatric cancer patients in the future.
Achille designed a logo for Mission 16, which includes the gold pediatric cancer ribbon and his lifelong hockey jersey number -- 16. Hockey is Tony’s passion.
“I belong to an amazing hockey organization, Boston Advantage, and my team and coaches never stopped pushing me to be the best I could even when I was sick,” Achille shared. “They were the reason I got up and out and kept moving. They were the best distraction.”
Through his campaign, he is selling custom Mission 16 gear, including sweatshirts for $40, T-shirts for $25-$30, and he has already raised well over $2,000.
“My goal is to bring awareness and support the charities that bring happiness to critically ill kids,” added Achille.
Tony is the son of Kelly and Bob Achille, who both grew up in Hingham and are also proud graduates of HHS, and brother of Ryan and Breece Achille.
“We’re so proud. It took Tony a long time to really accept his diagnosis. He was very private about it. I think I’m most proud of the fact he never let anyone outside of the house know or see just how drained he was from his treatments. He was always smiling, always doing his best to stay on the ice, and at the gym,” shared Kelly Achille, Tony’s mom. “When we first heard ‘your son has cancer,’ I knew he would recover, he had to, but I feared his passion for hockey could be over. Nothing has stopped his pursuit to play, and I’m so proud of him for never giving up on his dreams even when most people would have.”
Upon graduation, Tony will be playing Junior Hockey continuing his goal of playing college hockey, while also continuing his work on Mission16.
“Tony’s dad and I agree, he has all the time in the world to be an adult with a degree. We’re so glad he’s taking his time, enjoying life, and doing great things for other people,” added Kelly.
Tony also hopes people will use the hashtag #whatsyourmission when sporting their Mission 16 gear with the hopes of inspiring them to think of their own lives and what they can do with their experiences.
To support Mission 16, please visit https://www.bonfire.com/mission16/.
Good for you son!