Memorial ball tournament set for Saturday
NORWOOD – Organizers of a memorial ball tournament in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association are encouraging fans to fill the stands at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre in Norwood starting at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Registration may be closed with 20 teams set to compete in the Brent Upper Memorial Tournament in memory of Brent “Ripper” Upper and Jake “Steamtrain” Stanley, but donations can still be made online at http:// cmhahkpr.ca/get-involved /donate/ .
A third of proceeds from the event will support the Lakefield Chiefs, Upper’s home team, with the rest supporting two CMHA Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge efforts – Lynx, an early psychosis program for youth and Team55 Let’s Tackle Suicide Prevention.
Upper, 22, died of a suspected opioid overdose last July, while his good friend Stanley, 21, died by suicide in 2015.
Upper’s mom, Sheri Erickson, decided to host the tournament in their memory to bring awareness to the ongoing need for supports for youth battling mental health and addictions and the provide funding that will stay local, to help others, organizers stated.
“I wish that our efforts could bring back Brent and Jake, but they can’t. So we want to help raise awareness and end the stigma so people don’t suffer in silence and so that parents don’t have to bury their children,” she said when the event was announced in early April.
The first pitch will be thrown at 8 a.m. There will be a barbecue lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with remarks from family set for 1 p.m.
A 50/50 draw and other prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m., organizers stated.
NOTES: The Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre is located at 88 Alma St.… For more information on the tournament, call Sheri Erickson at 705-8722910.