Charity softball game raises money for fight against cancer
Craig Watson, of the Fayette Firecrackers, nearly gets a home run, but it tagged by the King and His Court's Charlie Dobbins, at the last minute. The softball game benefited Relay for Life and was held at the Laurel Highlands High School stadium in Uniontown.
Rich Hoppe (right), from the King and His Court, pitches blindfolded against the Fayette Firecrackers at Laurel Highlands High School stadium. Ron Davenport, assists his fellow teammate, during the charity softball game, for Relay for Life.
?Fayette County welcomed 鈥淭he King and His Court鈥� during a charity softball game Sunday that pitted area players against a touring team of four whose athletic and comedic talent entertained the crowd.
All money raised from the game benefited the American Cancer Society鈥檚 Relay for Life fundraiser. The relay will be held Aug. 13-14 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
For the first time and after years of battling each other, HeraldStandard.com and the Fayette County commissioners teamed up at the Fayette Firecrackers to take on 鈥淭he King and His Court.鈥�
And while the visiting four-man team brought it the most runs, the real winners of the night were the cancer survivors who were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
Mark O鈥橩eefe, executive editor of HeraldStandard.com and manager of the Fayette Firecrackers, said the game was entertaining and that the best part of the night was all the money raised to fight cancer.
O鈥橩eefe thanked the sponsors, the volunteers and all those who attended the game. Because donations were received to cover all costs associated with bringing 鈥淭he King and His Court鈥� to Fayette County, 100 percent of the money raised Sunday will benefit the American Cancer Society.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great event and all money goes to Relay for Life,鈥� he said.
Tim Naulty, event organizer, said Relay for Life is a worldwide movement to end cancer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just a fundraiser, it鈥檚 a life-changing experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 hit a home run against cancer.鈥�
Naulty said he was involved with bringing 鈥淭he King and His Court鈥� to a fundraiser last year and that the show is always popular.
Neil Gearhart, income development representative for the American Cancer Society, said the society appreciates Fayette County鈥檚 ongoing support of the annual Relay for Life fundraiser.
The county generally raises about $150,000 for the cause, he said.
鈥淏ringing 鈥楾he King and His Court鈥� in is a great way to get the community involved and raise money,鈥� Gearhart said.
Fayette County commissioners Vincent Zapotosky and Vincent Vicites said cancer affects everyone, both directly and indirectly, and that they were glad to be able to do their part.
鈥淚 hope that we鈥檙e able to continue this effort and keep raising funds for cancer research so that a cure can be found,鈥� Vicites said.
鈥淭oday is a day of hope, of optimism, a day where we all unite and through teamwork can accomplish anything. Let鈥檚 continue to work as a team and end the battle against cancer for all,鈥� Zapotosky said.
Most often compared with the Harlem Globetrotters of basketball, 鈥淭he King and His Court鈥� provide incredible athletic talent with comedic entertainment for all ages.
Started in 1946, the team traveled to 102 countries and played over 60,000 games before deciding to call it quits. This is their farewell tour.
King pitcher Rich Hoppe said the cancer survivors who attended Sunday鈥檚 game were his heroes.
Hoppe spoke after the game concluded, encouraging people to live their dreams and refuse to listen to the negativity that surrounds them.
鈥淒reams live inside of you. It鈥檚 that light you see when you shut your eyes,鈥� he said.
For more information on the American Cancer Society鈥檚 Relay for Life fundraiser, visit www.relayforlife.org.