This week marked what would’ve been a milestone birthday for Perrin Delorey, a beloved Westport Little Leaguer who was killed in a car crash at the age of 10 in June 2018.

“It was a real significant day for our family because turning 18, that’s a big moment and all of Perrin’s friends are now high school seniors,” explained Perrin’s father James Delorey. “They're moving on to graduate and head off to college.”

That includes Perrin's cousin and best friend, Philip Sullivan, who’s part of the Staples High School Class of 2026, as Perrin would've been.

“Perrin lived just a mile away from my house, so we really did everything together. He was really special,” Sullivan told News 12.

Perrin was a Cub Scout, who played hockey and baseball, along with piano and the violin, according to his father.

“He didn't come in to sports or music with an aptitude at the beginning, but if he was into it, he would work hard at it,” Delorey explained. “He was very coachable and a great team player.”

Perrin's spirit and ethos on and off the field led Westport Little League to retire his jersey at a special ceremony and baseball game in his memory. The league also created the Perrin Ryan Delorey Sportsmanship Award.

“Not to go to the best player on the team, but the player who worked the hardest to get better and to help his teammates or her teammates,” Delorey said.

It’s been a way for Perrin’s memory to live on. Now there’s another, thanks to Sullivan.

“Ever since he died, I’ve always tried to make an effort to make it feel like he's still here. Whether that's taking a picture of him and putting it in a coat pocket going to a school dance or wearing this bracelet that they gave out at that baseball game. I never take it off.”

So, Sullivan, with the help of friends and family, established a Staples Tuition Grant in Perrin's name.

“I thought of it as a way to make it feel like he's graduating in our class with us,” Sullivan told News 12.

Starting this spring, the Perrin Ryan Delorey “Do Your Best” Award will be given out annually to a graduating Staples senior to help pay for college.

“For a lot of students with great promise, there's challenges being able to afford to go, and I think it's amazing that Perrin’s friends in Perrin’s memory are going to help someone get a chance to go to school,” Delorey said.

Fundraisers for the scholarship have ensured that Perrin's life will continue to inspire the best in others and make a difference for years to come.

“Every day I’m more and more blown away by the support,” Sullivan added. “Everything that's happened in this scholarship is more than I ever imagined.”

To make a donation to the Perrin Ryan Delorey “Do Your Best” Award, click here.