A baseball tournament for a 5-year-old boy with leukemia kicked off today, one that will go all weekend with the help of various local businesses and organizer Yvonne Pilotte.
Pilote, a 46-year-old Aldergrove resident, was inspired to do something to help Sylas O鈥橰iley and his family after hearing news of his lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis.
鈥淚 just can鈥檛 imagine what they鈥檙e going through,鈥� Pilote told the Aldergrove Star, fighting back tears.
鈥淪truggling to do and pay for everything,鈥� she added.
Sylas started chemotherapy at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital since April 8, and is expected to have a three-year journey ahead of him with subsequent medical procedures.
His father Jason is hopeful, saying 鈥渃hemo is going well鈥� and plans to play in the slo-pitch tournament himself on 鈥淭eam Sylas,鈥� for his son who is described as a boy with a heart of gold.
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The three-day tournament begins Friday night (Aug. 9) at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. at Jackman Park鈥檚 northeast and southwest diamonds, adjacent to Parkside Centennial Elementary School.
Slo-pitch teams from Abbotsford and 91原创 have joined in with players the 12-game roster.
Sylas will attend the tournament for the very last game, which will start at 4 or 4:30 p.m. and wrap up by 5 p.m. on Sunday, when the public is invited to celebrate as the O鈥橰iley family are presented raised funds from the tournament in person.
Over the weekend, Jackman Park鈥檚 fields will transform into a place for locals to enjoy BBQ, cheer on playing teams, participate in various raffles costing $5 each 鈥� with all proceeds going back to the family.
Aldergrove鈥檚 Save-on-Foods stepped up to donate the hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, pop and water, as well as a BBQ and fire pit, Pilote said.
Others, including Boston Pizza, Sovereign Vitality Natural Medicine, Precision Gutters, Bob鈥檚 Bar 鈥榥鈥� Grill, Mark鈥檚, Bosley鈥檚 and Strawberry Hills Hair Care, have all donated goods and services as raffle prizes.
Shoppers Drug Mart gave a gift basket bull of products as well as a gift card for one winner.
The Tile Guy, $500 worth of labour towards tiling, and backsplash work in the bathroom or kitchen floors for another.
Pilote said door prizes and 50/50 draw tickets will be available all weekend for purchase during the event.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to raise enough money to send the family on a trip to Disneyland 鈥� to allow them some quality time together which they haven鈥檛 had much since Sylas鈥� diagnosis,鈥� Pilote emphasized.
Other donations to the O鈥橰iley family can be made out to TD Canada Trust鈥檚 O鈥橰iley Fund by contacting Pilote by email at transfer-theinkpilote@gmail.com.
