Football tourney to benefit DARE, Optimist Club
By LOU ANTONELLI - Managing Editor
Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:33 PM CDT
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| Club Treasurer Melissa Horton, left, introduced the members of the Crooks Family to the members of the Mount Pleasant Optimist Club at a recent meeting, l-r, Karen, Cari and David. Courtesy Photo |
The Mount Pleasant DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program and Optimist Club are teaming up for a football fundraiser to be held May 30 and 31.
Hayes Lesher, chief of police for the Mount Pleasant ISD, says the event is an outgrowth of the former "Pig Bowl", where teams from the ranks of law enforcement played each other, or they played volunteers from the high school.
This year the revamped event n dubbed the 2009 Mount Pleasant DARE and Optimist Bowl n will pit teams of amateur football lover from Mount Pleasant n as well as the surrounding area n against each other to raise money for some good causes.
Proceeds will be split between the DARE program and Optimist Club, which had designated its proceeds to go towards medical equipment expenses for Cari Lyn Crooks, a 2008 Chapel Hill High School grad who is battling a neurological disorder.
The 19-year old n who just finished her first year at Northeast Texas Community College n and her parents, David and Karen Crooks, were recent guests at a meeting of the Optimist Club.
Karen explained that, after suffering a number of baffling symptoms, Cari has been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a disorder that put pressure on the brain and spinal cord.
Cari will be having an operation in the future, but in the meantime is suffering a progressive hearing loss and needs hearing aids.
The Crooks noted that their health insurance doesn't cover the hearing aids. The members of the Optimists Club have agreed to help the family with that expense and will donate its share of the proceeds from the football fundraiser towards that cause.
The bowl will be played with a seven-on-seven flag football format. Entries are being taken until Thursday, May 28, and can be made by calling Lesher at the MPISD at 903-285-0515.
The entry fee per team is $125. Members of the Optimist Club will provide manpower and staff the concession stand at Sam Parker Field, which will be the venue for the event.
First and second prizes will be awarded. Play will start Saturday morning, May 30; Lesher said the tournament will extend into Sunday, if needed, depending on the number of entries.
Anyone who would like to make a donation directly to the Optimist Club towards the Crooks Family can send it to Treasurer Melissa Horton at 404 Southgate Street here in Mount Pleasant.
