MARA inagural softball tournament raises $3Kfor Ellie’s Hats

The Matthews Athletic & Recreation Association (MARA) recently hosted the inaugural Ellie’s Hats Charitable Softball Tournament to raise funds for Ellie’s Hats, a nonprofit that collects hats of all sizes, shapes, colors and designs for children fighting cance

logoWaxhaw Resident Robin Viar organized the tournament. Viar is a stage 4 colon cancer survivor who worked with her two teenage children, Katy and Reid, to host a hat drive last year in honor of Ellie’s Hats. Six traveling softball teams participated in six softball games, held throughout the afternoon. Players also participated in a Home Run Derby, in which they tried to hit as many home runs as they could in 10 pitches. Players collected pledges to support Ellie’s Hats, with player Piper Edwards from the Omni Elite Burn team, who raised $960.

Business vendors included Juniors Scoop Italian Ice, Sisters Crochet NC and MARA’s concession stand, and all donated a portion of their proceeds to Ellie’s Hats. The event also included T-shirt sales, a photo booth, 50/50 raffle and more.

The tournament raised more than $3,000, Viar said in the release.