This Saturday, softball enthusiasts will gather to raise money and pay tribute to two fallen community members during the David Forrest and Cory Bailey softball tournament at Aggie Field.
The name of the game will be fun, as teams show up in colourful costumes and uniforms to raise money [in team fees] for scholarships.
“It’s an opportunity to get together once a year and remember the boys,” said organizer Shawn O’Toole.
“There’s no prizes, no umpires, no trophies; all the money raised just goes directly towards the scholarships.”
The tournament has been going on for approximately 15 years, O’Toole said, and aims to raise at least $2,000 to be given to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation.
That money is then put into three bursaries, a $1,000 bursary in Bailey’s name and two $500 bursaries in Forrest’s name, which are given out to Ladysmith Secondary School students at the end of the school year.
The tournament was initiated after Forrest, 15, passed away of meningococcal meningitis. A few years later, the Bailey family was inducted when Cory lost his life in a tragic car accident.
The tournament includes eight teams made up of friends and family, as well as students from LSS, and the Ladysmith Fire Department.
“It’s a great time,” O’Toole said.
Anyone interested in the game or wishing to remember Forrest or Bailey can come out to Aggie Field and cheer on the teams May 26.
“If people wanted to come out and watch, that would be awesome,” O’Toole said.