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Local basketball fan organizes charity tournament to aid kids
Posted By Penny Coles

Ransom Hawley is hooked on basketball.

He is also a huge fan of the Raptors.

And at a stage in his life when he has had a bit of time on his hands, the recent business graduate from the University of Western Ontario has taken on a fundraising event that will help underprivileged children who want to be involved in sports.

On Aug. 29, the first annual 3-on-3 charity basketball tournament will be held in St. Catharines to benefit the Raptors Foundation for Kids.

Similar events have been staged in other major cities, says Hawley, a 23-year-old NOTL native, but this is the first to be held locally.

He hopes it will become an annual event, and in future years the Raptors Foundation can direct the funds to local charities that benefit children.

He has just recently landed a job as area manager with SC Johnson, and will start once the charity event is wrapped up, but although he expects to be busy, he is also already planning ahead for next year—with an earlier start he can line up more sponsors and participants.

This year, the full day event offers three divisions, one for participants aged 15 and older who are not competitive and just want to have fun—no skill required, says Hawley.

There will also be a division for competitive high school players, aged 15 to 18, and one for university basketball players 19 and over.

With two brothers, one older and one younger, the three Hawley men have two of the divisions covered with NOTL teams committed, and he is issuing a challenge to other locals, whether or not they have any basketball skills.

“I’d like to see a big group from NOTL, and I’d really like to see a champion of one of the divisions from NOTL.”

The cost to register is $40 a team, which can be three or four people, and with help from the Raptors Foundation, there will be lots of great prizes, including signed jerseys, he says.

The event will be held at the Ian Beddis basketball complex at Brock University, with four courts and eight competitions going at a time.

At present he’s got 15 teams signed up, but he’s targeting for 40 or more, he says.

“The more the better. I’d love the extra work.”

For more information or to sign up for the event, which begins at 11 a.m., go to www.gardencity3on3.ca, call Hawley at 519-902-8129 or email info@gardencity3on3ca.