Teams compete in fund-raising tournament
By:Marnie Kunz
The Manville Recreation Department team took home the gold from the MIKES for Manville final softball tournament on May 22, a fund-raiser for local student Ryan McKee, who has been diagnosed with leukemia.
Six teams battled in the tournament at Manville High School’s stadium field, including a team of firemen, one from Roosevelt School, one from the Manville Youth Athletic League, and a Manville Soccer Club team.
"Rich Armstrong, the director of Recreation for Manville, and the Recreation Department organized one amazing event and it raised over $2,200, which was extraordinary," said MIKES for Manville member Cindy Flanagan.
MIKES for Manville provides financial assistance to families with children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. The group sponsored a teacher-student softball tournament to benefit ABIS seventh-grader Ryan the first week of May. The champions from those games, staff members from Roosevelt School, went on to play other community members at Saturday’s final tournament.
For the fund-raiser, each player on the co-ed teams forked over $10 to register, and onlookers paid $1 to enter the stands. MIKES also sold refreshments, and all proceeds went to the McKee family.
"The day was awesome, and the highlight was that Ryan and his family came down for a little while to say hello and see a few innings of the playoffs," Ms. Flanagan said.
"Everyone who was there had a lot of fun and the folks from MIKES for Manville were proud and privileged to be involved in this excellent day."