SIKESTON -- This weekend area softball players will join together for a common cause: to save "second base."
The "Saving Second Base" Charity Softball Tournament is part of the Sikeston Jaycees' "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" fundraiser, which promotes breast cancer awareness. All proceeds of the fundraiser go to the local American Cancer Society to use for wigs, turbans, bras, breast prosthesis and transportation assistance in the Southern Missouri area.
Marcie Lawson, community manager of health initiatives for the American Cancer Society, said the Jaycees do "such a wonderful job with 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink,'" which they will hold on the Saturday night of rodeo. Last year the fundraiser generated $16,000 for ACS.
So far, $6,000 has gone toward 26 wigs and 60 care packages which include turbans and breast prothesis. The rest of the money will help boost the transportation assistance program. Lawson said right now the ACS gives $50 to patients making round trips over 100 miles. Thanks to the money raised by "Tough Enough," that amount will soon rise to $100.
The fundraising goal this year is $20,000. To meet that goal, a committee was formed to create additional events to raise money for "Tough Enough." The committee consists of Lawson and four other people. In the committee's "brainstorming sessions," Lawson said, one of the ideas was the charity softball tournament.
Jason Pounds, one of the committee members, said he hopes the tournament will catch on because of softball's popularity in the area.
"There are softball teams all over Sikeston and the surrounding areas," he said.
The tournament will start with games from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Sikeston Sports Complex softball fields and continue Saturday from 3 p.m. to finish. Both men and women are encouraged to play and bats and balls will be provided.
The first place team will receive free T-shirts with the "Saving Second Base" logo, and an invitation to walk in the rodeo parade Aug. 2 with the "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" float.
"We think everyone will come out and have a good time," Pounds said. "We're just trying to have fun for charity and raise as much money as possible for 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink.'"
Along with fun on the field, there will be full concessions and pink and white T-shirts available for purchase.
The entry fee for the tournament is $150 per team, and checks should be made payable to the Sikeston Jaycees. Teams have until 10 a.m. Friday to enter the tournament. Lawson said as of Tuesday she had three confirmed teams in the tournament and another three unconfirmed.
"We got a little late start, especially trying to do it around the regular softball season," Lawson said.
Lawson said she hopes the tournament will become a yearly tradition that all ages can enjoy. "We would absolutely love to make it an annual event," she said.
For more information or to sign up a team for the tournament, contact Marcie Lawson at the ACS office by calling 471-1873.