Searcy KLIFE — a nonprofit youth ministry — is hosting its sixth annual community dodgeball tournament and fundraiser on Saturday, April 2.
Jacob Keith, chapter director of KLIFE, said the tournament helps bring the Searcy community together for competitive fun, and anyone can be involved.
“We’ll have kids, parents, college students, grandparents — and even random members of the community of Searcy come out to the tournament,” Keith said. “This event is fun, not only because of the dodgeball, but because we also have a concession stand for those who come to watch and hang out.”
The tournament is a fundraiser for KLIFE, bringing in money for the day-to-day operations, women’s director Katie Bussmann said.
“Searcy KLIFE is run completely off of donations by the community,” Bussmann said. “This fundraiser will help allow us to run day-to-day operations, but also allow us to host events for the youth in town.”
People who participate in the tournament make a team and then play in two games of “pool play,” Bussmann said. Each game has three rounds that last five minutes. Then, the teams move into “bracket play,” which is determined by the number of wins a team has during pool play. Each bracket game lasts ten minutes until there is only one team left standing.
“Kids love the tournament,” Bussmann said. “We are excited about this year’s turnout. Kids get together a team, name it something fun and always show up wearing their version of a uniform. Some teams are already practicing, getting ready for the big day.”
Another aspect of the tournament is that team members can purchase “extra lives” if they get hit during a round. All proceeds go toward KLIFE’s ministry.
Bussmann said she is excited to see the community gather again to help support KLIFE and to spend time with one another.
“I’m excited to see the community gather for something as fun and simple as a dodgeball tournament,” Bussmann said. “There’s also an adult bracket, so I hope to see good competition out of parents and college students.”
Sarah Oxner, former board member and mother of three students involved with Searcy KLIFE, said the dodgeball tournament started out as a simple activity for students, but has turned into one of the ministry’s biggest fundraisers.
“Many businesses in the community have put their full support behind this event with sponsorships to help make it a successful fundraiser and its growth has been unbelievable,” Oxner said. “It’s amazing to watch so many kids, parents, and adults from so many church denominations come together for this special event to glorify our Lord while also having good clean fun.”
Oxner said she encourages anyone of any age to form a team and join in on the fun, or volunteer to referee.Anyone interested in joining the tournament can find the signup form on KLIFE’s Instagram page (@searcyklife). Each team requires six people, and members can purchase extra lives on the KLIFE website (www.searcy.klife.com) starting tomorrow.
