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Frogsbreath Foundation helps Team Shan, Shanna Larsen Memorial, Raise Over $15,000 Temiskaming Shores – With 34 teams and over 360 players involved in a weekend of activity, “Team Shan” emerged as the biggest winner of the Knock Cancer Out of the Park tournament. With the Frogsbreath Foundation accentuating this year’s edition with a $7,500 contribution to Team Shan, the weekend activities raised over $15,000.
“I honestly didn’t know what to expect this year,” commented organizer and Temiskmaing Shores’ City Councillor James T. Paterson. “Early this year we knew there was anticipation for the event… but as the date approached, we kept receiving more and more entries, which reinforced our effort.”
“Having the weekend designated as the “Shanna Larsen Memorial / Team Shan Weekend” by the City of Temiskaming Shores added an enormous intangible to the event, too.” commented Paterson.
“After hearing Frogsbreath President Sarah Grant on CJTT about the beginning of June, it simply made sense not only apply for the tournament to apply, but also to have Team Shan submit an application, especially since the money raised from our tournament is being used in programmes in our area by Team Shan,” he explained. “Of course every dollar raised helps, but for an organization like Frogsbreath to recognize the viability of our efforts and moreover those of the Larsen’s and Team Shan, well it makes everything associated with our tournament that much more gratifying.”
When asked about the team entries, Paterson stated “last year we had 30 teams; this year we exceeded that by over 10%, including teams and players from Ottawa, Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, London, Kirkland Lake and so many other out-of-town locations. It’s truly gratifying to know this event has been circled in advance on so many calendars.”
Fellow organizer Clint Beairsto added, “many of the out-of-town teams and players, as well as local, approach us saying this is the absolute best tournament of the year in the north.” “Team Shan” is the initiative started by Lorna and Rob Larsen to commemorate and educate on behalf of their daughter Shanna. A former resident of Haileybury, Shanna passed of breast cancer 5 years ago at the age of 24. Along with her friends and family members, Shanna’s memory is captured at the heart of Team Shan with their motto: “breast cancer is not just a disease of older women.”
Recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency as a charitable organization this year, the funds raised will be used to further the focus of Team Shan: to increase early detection and to improve the hopes for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. The funds raised by the Knock Cancer Out of the Park tournament and all other Team Shan fund-raising efforts are used to further the message of the organization through various medium.
RESULTS: In the 12-team Men’s “Denis Gauvreau” League, so named in honour of the local long-time umpire and following the ceremonial first-pitch by Denis’ wife and cancer survivor herself Reggie Gauvreau, the Ottawa-based ‘11-North’ team won the Pink MLB Bat trophy in the A-division, defeating Gabe’s Auto. In the B-division, the Drunken Munkeys surpassed the Misfits.
With 22 teams entered in the Mixed division, A, B and C titles were available to be won. Team Dena came through in extra innings to claim the C-title over Active 1 Source for Sports; in the B-div, Gramma’s Boys and Girls emerged victorious in their game against Gabe’s Auto; and in the A-division, Moe’s Tavern raised the Pink Bat trophy versus Les Rameurs.
On Saturday, the ‘Skater’s Edge Source for Sports’ Home Run Derby held intrigue and excitement as both the men’s and the women’s divisions were contested by proven performers. In windy conditions, the women’s division crowned Dez Jackson as the Queen of the Long Ball, while the men’s division boiled down to an eventual head-to-head match between Pat Paiement and Jayson Stewart to break their tied result. Ultimately it was Stewart going the distance to claim the throne for the year.
When asked about next year’s event – the 6th of the tournament – Paterson commented “it’s going to be tough to top this year, no doubt. But each year we’ve held this event, it’s been better than the previous year, and I don’t see that changing at all. In fact, we’ve already formed plans to make it even better for everyone involved!” |
