Ice hockey: Kaiya's Cup

If you're not headed to Mennen Arena on Sunday, you might want to take a trip over to the Ice Vault in Wayne at 5:15 p.m., where a hockey game with a whole different purpose will be taking place.

Indian Hills and Ramapo will participate in the 2nd Annual Kaiya's Cup hockey game, a benefit event for Kaiya Barber, the 3-year old daughter of Indian Hills head coach and Ramapo math teacher Lee Barber.

Kaiya was born with Cerebral Palsy as a result of a stroke she suffered at birth.  Medical expenses for her treatment and therapy are approaching $40,000.00 per year, as the therapy sessions in Middletown, NJ and at the Children's Therapy Center in Fair Lawn are not covered by Lee and Jill Barber's insurance.

The Ramapo-Indian Hills school district as well as the hockey communities in the district have been supportive of the Barber's plight, and they have set up the Care for Kaiya Fund to help with some of the costs.

The Indian Hills and Ramapo hockey teams will take to the ice as part of the fund-raising process on Sunday.  Tickets for the game are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids, with all proceeds going to the Fund.

The two teams are also recognizing the recent tragedy that struck the Wayne Valley ice hockey team by dedicating the "game skills" exhibition to the meory of Chris Krassowski, the Indian player who was killed after being struck by a car while crossing Route 23 earlier this year.

In addition, interested parties can make donations (payable to Care for Kaiya) by mail to:

Care for Kaiya

c/o Nancy Larkin

71 Powhatan Path

Oakland, NJ 07436

Commemorative T-Shirts will be sold at the game and donations can be made while in attendance at the Ice Vault.

"You always wonder, 'What did I do wrong to cause this?'," Barber told former Record reporter Dan Rosen last year, "but I wouldn't trade her for anything.  She's a great (kid)."