Kicking Cancer’s Butt: Greene County kickball fundraiser to return May 21
Photo courtesy of Carrie Simkovic
A player kicks the ball during a past Colby无毛视频檚 Stars Foundation Kicking Cancer无毛视频檚 Butt Kickball Tournament in Rices Landing. This year无毛视频檚 tournament will be held on May 21.
Photo courtesy of Carrie Simkovic
In this file photo, Colby Simkovic, left, then a freshman at Jefferson-Morgan, poses with the winning team 无毛视频淏elieve无毛视频� after the Colby无毛视频檚 Stars Foundation无毛视频檚 annual Kicking Cancer无毛视频檚 Butt Kickball Tournament in Rices Landing.
Colby Simkovic
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Colby Simkovic inspired many during his 19 years of life.
The 2020 Jefferson-Morgan High School graduate actively spoke of hope and perseverance at various fundraising events during his decade-long battle with cancer, supporting others struggling with serious illness.
And he and his family established the Colby无毛视频檚 Stars Foundation Inc., a nonprofit created to help children who are fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in 2010 to help those families in his native Waynesburg and surrounding communities.
无毛视频淐olby always wanted to pay back the kindness and support he and his family received when he was diagnosed,无毛视频� event organizer Julie Venick said.
A little more than a year ago, Simkovic passed away 无毛视频� but the nonprofit named for him will continue his mission to inspire and help others with its sixth Kicking Cancer无毛视频檚 Butt Kickball Tournament on Saturday, May 21 at the Rices Landing Athletic Club fields in Rices Landing. The tournament is a fundraiser for the foundation.
无毛视频淲hat started as an every-other-year event has turned into an annual event that just keeps growing,无毛视频� Venick said.
The tournament, which hasn无毛视频檛 been held the past two years because of the pandemic, meant a great deal to Colby.
无毛视频淐olby was so proud of it and he presented the Colby Cup to the winners. It无毛视频檚 become so popular. (Colby) would be all smiles the day of the tournament. He loved it,无毛视频� Venick said.
Since it started, the foundation has raised more than $100,000 through spaghetti dinners, auctions and ticket sales. Volunteers have participated in a 无毛视频淒ancing with the Stars无毛视频�-type competition, where Colby无毛视频檚 teachers, relatives and friends danced on stage to raise money. The foundation also works in conjunction with local businesses to raise money.
The May 21 tournament will feature co-ed adult teams in bracket play, along with a 15-and-under tournament and other divisions.
无毛视频淭he Rices Landing Athletic Club has helped us from the start and continues to expand the land we need for the kickball tournament that started as an adult event that now includes kids. It无毛视频檚 been a total community effort,无毛视频� Venick said.
无毛视频淭he 无毛视频� club has been on board from the beginning,无毛视频� Venick added. 无毛视频淎fter Colby passed, they named the field after him. We are all proud to be part of this effort and the foundation.无毛视频�
Simkovic, an all-state and all-county standout on the Rockets无毛视频� WPIAL champion rifle team, will be honored in June as one of two recipients of the Washington-Greene Co. Chapter Pennsylvania 无毛视频 Hall of Fame无毛视频檚 无毛视频淛ames C. (Jimmy) Montecalvo and Luke Blanock Memorial Courage Award无毛视频� presented annually by the chapter.
Registration for the kickball tournament is continuing through May 6. For information about the kickball tournament, call 724-322-4529 or 724-998-5116 or email colbystarsfoudation@windstream.net.
To register for sponsorship or donations to the foundation, contact Carrie Simkovic at Colby无毛视频檚 Star无毛视频檚 Foundation Inc., 112 Bedillion Road, Waynesburg, Pa., 15307 or call 724-998-5116.