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Memorial ball tournament raises $3,500 for KidSport

The annual Ryan Schonke Memorial Baseball Tournament was another home run for the Williams Lake KidSport chapter.
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Mark Bremner (middle) presents Williams Lake KidSport’s Denise Skarra (left) and Deb Radolla this year’s cheque for $3

The annual Ryan Schonke Memorial Baseball Tournament was another home run for the Williams Lake KidSport chapter.

The annual tournament has helped the local organization each year by donating proceeds from the event to KidSport.

Mark Bremner organizes the memorial ball tournament each year as a tribute to his friend Schonke. Schonke was born and raised in Williams Lake and was passionate about sports and children, but was killed, tragically, in a car accident 12 years ago.

Bremner recently presented $3,500 from this year’s tournament to the Williams Lake chapter of KidSport. In total the Ryan Schonke Memorial Baseball Tournament has raised $19,500 over the past five years.

The tournament is held in Likely one week before the B.C. Day long weekend late July.

“The support of the local businesses is the largest factor in the tournament’s success,” Bremner said.

KidSport, for those unfamiliar, provides funds to cover the cost of sport registration for kids who might not otherwise get the chance to play sports.

Denise Skarra, member of the Williams Lake KidSport chapter, said the statistics are clear.

“A child involved in sport is likely to be a better student, is less likely to be a burden to the social justice system and will develop lifelong physical activity habits which reduce health care costs,” she said.

“The benefits to the child are immeasurable.”

More information on KidSport is available at www.activewilliamslake.com or by contacting Skarra at 250-398-7665.