Lockport, New York native Tom Maloney is a star of hope whose star shines most brightly for his children. The 45-year-old dad was diagnosed with melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer in March 2006, when an area surgeon removed a suspicious lesion from Tom’s shoulder.

Knowing the dangers of melanoma, Tom and his wife, Debbie, decided to get a second opinion at Roswell Park. The diagnosis was confirmed and additional testing determined that his was an aggressive, fast growing type of cancer.

Tom’s team of physicians recommended and Tom agreed to treatment with interferon, an immunologic therapy, which helps to prevent a recurrence of the disease. Debbie remembers how her husband not only kept working through the three surgeries and the year-long interferon treatments but that he coached his 14-year-old son's hockey team all the way to the New York State Championships where they placed third.

“Tom showed a group of impressionable teenage boys that giving up is never an option. The boys listened to and observed a man who never missed a practice or a game no matter how early or late in the day they needed to be at the rink. Those 17 boys were given an opportunity of a lifetime to observe that no obstacle is too big if you face it with grace, dignity and perseverance. Tom was given the opportunity to find out how much he is loved, admired and respected. Those boys never gave up either!” Debbie said.

Tom also was an inspiration for his daughter. She and her trainer raised funds for cancer research in “Saddle Up for Roswell” at her stable’s annual horseback riding event.

Today, Tom is back to work full time and maintains his active lifestyle and values each and every day he has with his family.

His message of hope for the holidays: “As holiday time approaches, be like children and always have a dream of what splendors are about to come every day. Keep positive thoughts, go about your normal routine as much as possible and visualize a future with friends and family who are key elements in helping to beat your cancer. Thank God for those close to you who do so much to help you overcome this disease.”