BROOKINGS ALS is an incurable disease that damages nerve cells, causing muscle atrophy and weakness but supporters of the Kiss My ALS Foundation will show no weakness on June 21 as they work up a sweat raising money for a cure during the Summer Sol Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament at Pioneer Park.
We started out three years ago doing a volleyball tournament to raise money for ALS in support of the Kiss My ALS Foundation out of Brookings, Eric Beckendorf, tournament organizer, said. We had 18 teams show up that first year. We did it again last year, but we had a big flood at Sexauer Park so we ended up moving it to Pioneer Park.
Brookings resident Bill Bruns created the Kiss My ALS Foundation in 2021 in memory of his wife Jodi DeYoung. After being diagnosed with ALS just a year earlier, she died June 8, 2021, at age 53. Beckendorf said his friendship with them inspired him.
I blew out my Achilles tendon and wasnt able to play sports for almost a year, Beckendorf said. It was then that I thought, Ive taken a lot from sports, nows the time to use sports to give back. Bill Bruns I was friends with him he posted something on Facebook. I thought, this is a group I should contact. So I talked with him, had him meet with our volleyball group, he talked about everything Jodi went through. It clicked yep, this is the one and were going to do everything we can until we find a cure.
Michael Holt has been a co-organizer all three years and a participant for two years.
Some of the stories I heard when we were initially putting this together are really quite moving, Holt said. You hear how severe (ALS) is. This goes towards a good cause, and I just think its checking a lot of boxes for a fulfilling day. You got the community aspect, you got the physical aspect of moving your body and being competitive, and of course youve got the raising money for a good cause aspect as well. Its really multi-level.
Beckendorf said the event has grown each year.
Our volleyball tournament last year brought in like $2,500 or $2,800, he said. What were hoping to do through these tournaments is not just raise money through the entry fee but help people see what our cause is. They can maybe donate directly to the Kiss My ALS Foundation. You dont have to play volleyball to donate. You can still make a donation that will make its way to the researchers that are trying hard to cure this disease.
Holt said they welcome both spectators and players.
If you have four, five, six people that want to get together, then make a team, Holt said. Youre going to be welcome with open arms. At minimum, swing out and watch. If youve got a group, just say yes. Come on out. Its like $20 per person for the whole day. Its for a good cause, and you get to enjoy a fun, social community event.
Registration is $120 per team. To sign-up, email [email protected] or call Beckendorf at 605-690-1378. Donations can be made through Venmo @KissMyALSFoundation. The Kiss My ALS Foundation will put all money raised towards The Gleason Foundation and the ALS Cure Project national nonprofits established to find a cure for ALS and supply equipment for those impacted by the disease.
Beckendorf said theyll also have an indoor event for those not wishing to sweat in the sun playing volleyball.
Last year, we also had a dart tournament that we started up, he said. That was popular, and we had a lot of people participate in that. So were doing that again this year down at Sullys.
The dart tournament is Sat., June 21 at 3 p.m. at Sullys Irish Pub, 421 Main Ave. Registration is $60 per team and proceeds also support the Kiss My ALS Foundation.
To sign up for a day of darts, email [email protected] or call (605) 690-3702.
Formerly known as Lou Gehrigs disease, ALS is the same condition that claimed the life of physicist Stephen Hawking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 31,000 Americans have been diagnosed with the condition.
Were not trying to raise millions of dollars with our tournament, but every penny that we raise is a penny into the wishing well for someone who has ALS that maybe a cure will be found before its too late, Beckendorf said
Its amazing how many people Ive talked to over the last now going on three years who say, yeah, my mom or my aunt or someone I knew passed away from ALS. We want the community to be a part of this. You dont have to play to donate. If you enjoy the energy of watching others play and that inspires you to give a donation, thats hugely helpful.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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