Darryl Murphy will be returning to the Jaws of Life tournament next year, not as its organizer but as a player in a fundraising event he's committed the last 20 years to.
This past weekend's benefit mixed slow pitch tournament and cabaret in Eagle Hill marked the end of Murphy's second decade as the event's organizer.
The Sundre Jaws of Life tournament raises money for the Sundre Fire Department for purchase of equipment and training.
Looking around at the mix of players, firefighters, and supporters gathered at the Eagle Hill ball diamonds Saturday, Murphy says the event is just as he envisioned it in 1991.
“They wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the fun and to raise money,” Murphy said.
When the Sundre resident first contrived the idea to mix slowpitch with fundraising, he was a volunteer Sundre firefighter.
“We loaded a kit into the back of a Chevy van. That's how it was when we responded back then,” said Murphy.
The annual tournament typically brings in $4,000 - $6,000 in donations for the fire department.
He's quick to credit a co-organizing couple and the community effort in sustaining the event for so long. Area businesses and the players themselves, deserve much thanks, he said.
“Teams usually donate their winnings back and that's appreciated,” he said.
Pointing to firefighting equipment sprawled on a tarp during Saturday's fire department demonstration at the Eagle Hill ball diamonds, Murphy says equipment can become outdated.
Items such as the stabilizer bars used in the demonstration were purchased through funds raised at past tournaments.
The department needs such equipment as the stabilizer bars as well as the Jaws of Life, to be able to extract victims of car accidents, an occurrence they are frequently called to attend.
And as time goes on, the changes in materials used to manufacture vehicles also necessitates upgrading of equipment, he said.
“It's not that we couldn't do the job with what we got, we can do it better,” he said.
The fundraising the event provides alleviates the budget pressure on the Town of Sundre and Mountain View County, he added.
While this year's fundraising total may be less than previous years because of fewer teams playing, Murphy says the event continues to be a boon for the fire department.
“And I'm happy to say it's going to continue on,” said Murphy.
There's already people willing to take over organizing next year's event so Murphy can go back to enjoying the tournament as a player.
“I'm done organizing but I'll be back to play,” he said.
