Gordon Optimist’s annual Sarah Williams Memorial Mud Volleyball Tourney raises money for childhood cancer charities
At the 8th annual Sarah Williams Memorial Mud Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the Gordon Optimist Club this past Saturday, FCA came away with bragging rights as the tourney champs. Runner-up team was NorthPointe Church in Adairsville. CrossFit Calhoun came in third.
This tournament brought in $7500, bringing the total the tournament has raised to more than $55,000 for local charities, as well as scholarships, in the past eight years. The Gordon Optimist Club’s primary focus is on childhood can- cer. Sarah Williams was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and succumbed to the disease in 2010. Her parents, Bob and Susan Williams, started Sarah’s Snacks program that provides snacks for young cancer patients in treatment at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga.
A $1000 scholarship to each of the local high schools as well as donations to the Coulter Hampton Foundation and Sarah’s Snacks will be provided by the tournaments proceeds, as well as donations to other children’s cancer charities.
This year’s tournament was played in honor of Charlie Wright, who passed away earlier this year from cancer. “We wanted to do something special for this family that has been so strong through a very difficult time,” said Gordon Optimist President Allen Bowen.
The Gordon Optimist Club is a civic organization that assists children and youth in our community. A chapter of Optimist International, which has more than 2900 Optimist Clubs around the world, the club is dedicated to “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.” The Gordon Optimist Club meets every Wednesday at noon at Big John’s Treat Shoppe, located at 131 Lovers Lane in Calhoun.