The sun came out as folks from as far as Calgary shaved their heads at the 24th annual Lori Craven Memorial Tournament.
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Ball players, volunteers and spectators of all ages packed Driven Energy Legion Ball Park on Aug. 16 and 17 for the annual tournament. The two-day event features 32 teams and a handful waiting in the wings to be added to the schedule.
According to organizers, this year’s tournament raised $105,000 through donations and the shaving of heads and beards, which are live auctioned each year on Sunday afternoon.
Funds raised go directly to local and area families with health and financial struggles.
“Illness affects everyone. No matter who you are, everyone’s going to know someone,” said co-committee member Deanna Wandler. “To me, this tournament means coming together; the community comes together. Seeing the fun everyone has and the contributions people make is amazing.
“The kids here today grow up around this tournament and one day they’ll be playing in it. Everybody is so amazing and supportive.”
Before the hair came off, Wandler took to the mic to thank everyone for their involvement and generosity over the years. From kids raising money and collecting pop-can tabs, to the recipient of the annual Char Jezowski Spirit Award, a lot of passion for giving back is displayed over the weekend.
The recipient of this year’s Char Jezowski Spirit Award was Wandler’s niece Hudson Hohne.
“Char Jezowski was a committee member and a beautiful person. I wanted to do something to memorialize her, which is how the spirit award came to be,” said Wandler.
Since its inception seven or eight years ago, Factory Sports has donated an item to be awarded to the recipient.
“It’s been cool to watch the tournament evolve,” said Wandler. “I was once in that younger group and I love watching the next generation being here, supporting and knowing what it’s all about.”
It may be a two-day event, but fundraising efforts are year-round through various community partners such as the Motley Troupe dinner theatre.
“With the Motley Troupe donation of $50,000, we were able to help a lot more families this year,” said Wandler, noting the Lori Craven committee cooks the meal for the annual dinner theatre. “Audina Hardstaff from Flowers on the Fly also did a fundraiser called Red Rose for a Cause, which helped a lot.”
The weekend is also special as it attracts crowds with no involvement in the tournament.
“People come out to watch even if they’re not playing,” said Wandler. “This group also supports the community throughout the year through bartending or helping with the Motley Troupe.
“You can tell this tournament is special in the community because we have people coming to us asking how they can help. We don’t turn any idea away. The more the merrier.”
A weekend highlight for many is the annual head shaving. This year’s tournament included head hair, beards and one participant who’s proud to return home with his fresh buzz.
“My friend invited me up here,” said Calgary’s Hunter Kalynchuk, noting the importance of the tournament hit close to home.
Taylor Weaver – Meridian Source
“My mom had a spinal cord tumour a number of years ago, had a very small chance to live, and thankfully, she survived. I know a lot of people aren’t so lucky. I want to do as much as I can to support the cause.”
Kalynchuk also explained his friend’s mom is currently battling cancer, and it was important for them to come together and help the cause.
“We paid for each other to get our hair cut and donate to the cause and support it as best as we could.”
Earl Andrews, who slightly resembled Grizzly Adams at the start of the weekend, shaved his beard for the cause and raised good money doing it.
Taylor Weaver – Meridian Source
“This is one of my most favourite ball tournaments and charities I’ve ever been a part of. I’m excited to be getting rid of the beard to support this cause,” he said before the shave.
“I haven’t been clean-shaven in eight years, and I’ve been growing it out for five or six months now,” he said.
Andrews and his wife have had a team in the Lori Craven for a decade and were on a waitlist for five years before playing.
Motley Troupe staple and owner of Mel’s Hair Shop, Mel Coote, surprised everyone when she announced she’d also be shaving her head for the cause.
“This is an amazing organization and I’m so happy the Motley Troupe has been involved with it for the last two years,” she said. “We reorganized ourselves and sistered with the Lori Craven tournament. It helps the community, and I love it. I know so many people they’ve helped.”
Full of excitement, Coote grabbed the mic and serenaded the crowd with The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun during her cut.
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