91原创

Organizers of the first annual Mangat Family Softball tournament in Aldergrove were able to pull together a 12-team competition and cancer fundraiser in just three weeks.

Held this past weekend, on Aug. 28 and 29, at Phillip Jackman Park, the event honoured the memory of Surjit Dhillon, Jodi Mangat鈥檚 mother, and Amrik 鈥淢oti鈥� Bassi, a close family friend of the Mangats, both of whom passed away from cancer.

There was a beer garden, facepainting, a balloon artist, barbecue lunch 鈥渁nd some great memories,鈥� Jodi Mangat said.

鈥淭he amount of support was overwhelming.鈥�

Usually, the Mangat family puts together a poker fundraiser each year, but due to COVID-19, capacity was limited this year. Plus they wanted to raise more for the cause.

With the blessing of the BC Cancer Agency, the Mangat family has been donating a portion of the proceeds from past fundraisers to individual families who are going through tough times due to cancer.

READ ALSO: Charity poker and softball tournaments will help Aldergrove families struggling with cancer

This year, the Mangat family reached out to , whose son Chase has been battling neuroblastoma since August 2020.

Chase鈥檚 journey hit close to home with the Mangat鈥檚 older son, Justin, who has two young boys of his own.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer that requires tough and invasive treatment plan with some of the treatments only available outside of Canada.

READ ALSO: Fighting cancer by playing poker 鈥� Aldergrove daughter goes 鈥榓ll in鈥� for late mother

Tonya and two of her sons, Cole and Tyson, attended the softball tournament and gave some more insight into Chase鈥檚 journey and some of the challenges they have faced and must still face in the future.

鈥淚t was a weekend filled with love, support, tears and fun and there are no words to describe the overwhelming support from our our donors, volunteers, the community and all the players who came out,鈥� Jodi told the 91原创 Advance Times. 鈥淲e are already planning on how we can make next year even bigger and better.鈥�

If anyone wants to make a donation to Chase鈥檚 journey the GoFundMe page is under 鈥溾��.