Karissa gets her wish at Waterville tournament
Spunky Karissa Bezanson had no trouble lobbing a baseball on June 2 – despite the fact the 11-year-old had chemotherapy that morning.
The youngster was the ‘wish child’ for the ninth annual charity softball tournament sponsored by the Michelin Sport and Social Club in Waterville.
Little did the Kingston girl know when she lined up her pitch to start the event that she was about to receive her wish: a family camper. When the fire trucks assembled for the event moved ahead, sirens blaring, she glimpsed the camper.
Karissa, who was diagnosed with leukemia last November, immediately burrowed into her mother, Shannon Hohmann’s arms.
Picking up the keys from Jacob Rafuse, N.S. co-ordinator for the Children’s Wish Foundation, Karissa headed over for a quick tour with a huge smile on her face.
A family friend said that Karissa had a couple of rough weeks recently. The surprise camper, no doubt, arrived at a good time seasonally as well as in her cancer journey.
Even before the tournament began, Karissa proclaimed her excitement and said she had bought a softball to practise her pitching. The practise showed.
Making the event even more special was that ‘wish child’ nine years ago, Nicholas Oickle, 14, of Berwick, was there for the first pitch, along with his brother, Blye, and parents, Tanya and Richard.
Sixteen-year-old Blye donated bone marrow to his sibling as a result of anaemia. The Oickles’ wish trip took them to Disney World because Nicholas was keen to meet Spider Man.
Tanya says her younger son is doing well today, but still has annual checkups. She used to work with Karissa’s mom and commented, “kids can endure a lot. They’re a lot more resilient than we give them credit for.”
Well organized tournament
Tournament organizer Christine Anderson thanked the volunteer firefighters on hand, along with the Salty Souls Jeep Club, who supported the late Jacob Stern.
The tournament, Anderson noted, began with two teams and has raised $92,000. Last year the charitable contribution was $20,000. It concludes June 11.
This year, she said, there are 37 teams taking part in the two-weekend event, two more than last year.
Throughout both weekends volunteers are holding barbecues, entertainment and raffles to raise funds to make a child’s wish come true.
Fire trucks from Waterville, Berwick, Aylesford, Kentville and Wolfville toured the children on hand around the community – an annual tradition – prior to the first game.
According to Rafuse, the foundation, which has been going for 30 years, is busy. He said he has 94 active files.