The Olds and area Men's Wooden Bat Slow-Pitch league comprised of nine teams from the Olds area is donating $1,400 to KidSport. The money was raised in the league's third annual Darren Laveck Memorial Tournament, held June 4 and 5 at Westward Ho.
KidSport is a national organization that assists children of low-income families with up to $300 a year to help offset sports registration fees.
Laveck, a former member of one of the league's teams, passed away three years ago, at which point the league began to hold a memorial tournament in his name, said league spokesperson Bruce Kemmere.
Whichever team hosts the tournament gets to choose which charity the proceeds go to, explains Kemmere.
This year, that honour fell to the Westerdale Warriors, which Kemmere plays for.
“It's nice to be able to give to an association that's helping kids do something they enjoy, and couldn't afford to normally,” said Kemmere.
Being that many of the league's members have kids who play sports, Kemmere said they wanted to give others an opportunity to do the same.
“We just thought it was a natural fit. Being a sports team, we just thought ‘Let's help out kids who can't play.'”
The $1,400 being donated to KidSport was raised from the $200 entry fees paid by each of the seven teams who participated.
Usually, the league charges entry fees to cover ball diamond rentals and prizes, but for the Darren Laveck Memorial Tournament those were waived.
“Westward Ho donated the cost of the ball diamonds for the weekend when they found out it was a charity tournament,” said Kemmere. “That way all the funds went straight to charity.”
KidSport Mountain View chair Pam Cameron said the donated funds would enable local children of low-income families within Mountain View County to play organized sports.
“We've lucked out with a lot of great support in the community,” said Cameron. “A huge thanks to the league for its generous donation.”
KidSport will be holding its second-annual charity mixed slow-pitch tournament during the Didsbury Rodeo, August 19 to 21, at Didsbury Memorial Park.
The entry fee is $300 per team, with all money raised going to KidSport Mountain View to help keep kids off the sidelines and in the game.
For more information or to register a team, call Pam Cameron at 403-335-6216.
