Funds raised by the third annual fundraising softball tournament held by Aldergrove’s Mangat family will help the Openshaw family of Murrayville, whose twin sons are both fighting cancer.
On Saturday, Aug. 26, during a pause in play at Philip Jackman Park, the Mangats presented a cheque for $11,000, which included two donations of $1,000 each, from the Aldergrove Elks, and Jeff Meacher at Mission Gas Busters.
Annual Mangat family softball tournament and fundraiser to fight cancer is underway at Philip Jackman Park in Aldergrove pic.twitter.com/M6UuqUnIyT
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) August 27, 2023
A delighted Alisha Openshaw, mom of twins Weston and Bennett, who are both fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia, called it “amazing.”
“It’s bigger than I was anticipating,” she said of the ball tournament.
“It’s just so nice to see this amount of people here for us.”
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Alisha, husband Mike, and older brother Jackson had just returned with Weston and Bennett from a stay at Camp Goodtimes for kids with cancer.
“The boys are excited to be here,” Alisha told the Langley Advance Times, and are doing well.
Weston, whose blood counts “haven’t been great” was showing signs of improvement.
“We went straight from the ferry terminal [returning from camp the day before the ball tournament] to the hospital to get blood work, and his counts are coming up nicely,” Alisha said.
Annual Mangat family softball tournament and fundraiser to fight cancer is underway at Philip Jackman Park in Aldergrove. Food and live music is part of the experience pic.twitter.com/93zUokhmcZ
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) August 26, 2023
Fourteen team played Saturday and Sunday, with a barbecue, 50/50 draw, raffle, and cash bar.
Jodi Mangat, who began organizing the annual tournament in the memory of her mother Surjit Dhillon, who died at age 72 in 2014 of pancreatic cancer, called it “100 per cent the best ever” tournament so far.
“It’s overwhelming to know there’s such support from the community,” Mangat told the Langley Advance Times.
“I’m still in shock.”
She went on to give a “big thank you” to the supporters and volunteers who made the event possible.
As well, $2,000 is being donated to the Cops For Cancer fundraising bicycle ride, with the Elks adding another $1,000 to go toward the end-of-the-ride dinner.
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