A kickball tournament fundraiser, Kickin’ it with Luke, will take place September 16, 2017. The tournament will be held at Dayton Area Rugby Club Grounds, 620 Shiloh Rd, Dayton, OH 45415, and benefit Brigid’s Path, a local nonprofit which provides inpatient medical care for drug-exposed newborns, non-judgmental support for mothers, and education services to improve family outcomes.
The tournament will be held in memory of 29-year-old Lucas Stoddard, a Dayton native. Luke was always energetic and active, and grew up playing basketball and soccer. When he was a teenager, he suffered a sports injury and was prescribed pain medication that led to a long struggle with addiction. Luke actively and passionately battled the addiction in a struggle to stay drug free, with the support of his family and closest friends.
Luke’s death brought an awareness to his friends and family that people all over our city and country are gaining: that there is no one face of addiction. That it does not discriminate, but instead can be your loved one or neighbor just as easily as the person across town.
“Addiction was just a tiny part of the life that Luke lived, and doesn’t define him or his legacy,” said Melanie Wagner, tournament organizer. “He always loved kids, and was perpetually the fun cousin, uncle and life of the party. I know he would be proud to support the life-changing work of Brigid’s Path, and the babies and mothers that they assist.”
Teams of 10 or more can register at https://kickinitwithluke.com/. Spectators are invited to attend at no cost and participate in backyard games such as cornhole, giant Connect Four, and Kan Jam. A raffle will take place at the tournament. If you are interested in donating a prize, please contact Kimber Altick at (937) 367-4830 or email [email protected]. Individuals not participating in the tournament can make donations in Luke’s memory directly to Brigid’s Path at https://brigidspath.org/donate-new/.
