A slo-pitch tournament in memory of Brandi Leask has raised over $33,000.
The tournament held over the July 28 weekend saw 150 players taking part and over 50 spectators supporting the event. The mother of four tragically died in a car crash last month and all the money raised will be given to her children.
Organizer Lacey Winterhalt says they wanted to host the tournament because the Leask family was heavily involved in the sport.
“She (Leask) was always our biggest fan, our biggest cheerleader. She came along to all our tournaments and games. We felt this was the best way to do a fundraiser for them and get her ball family involved for a good cause.”
The number of funds raised is continuing to grow as cash donations are still coming in and silent auction prizes have yet to be claimed.
Winterhalt says before the tournament got underway the prizes and alcohol for the event had been stolen the night before.
“Basically had everything set up Friday night and ready to go for Saturday so sometime during the night while we weren’t there someone broke into the concession and stole all of the door prize donations, as well as a lot of our alcohol we had stocked for the weekend.”
About $2,000 in alcohol was stolen, as well as some prizes that were worth over $300. Despite the bad start to the Saturday, the Lloydminster community rallied to restore the stolen items. Winterhalt says they almost tripled the number of prizes and alcohol they had through donations.
Winterhalt says trust funds will be set up for all four children and the money will be divided equally between them. A GoFundMe page was also set up for the family and has raised over $12,000.