SCHEDULE RELEASED (Scroll below): The Ballin' for the Cure Basketball Tournament organized by Donovan Gayle has announced that it will return for a fourth year on August 25-26, 2017 at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre. Since its start in 2014, the event has raised nearly $15,000 to benefit CancerCare Manitoba. The 2017 event will feature senior men's and and will add an 18+ female division for the first time.
Also new for 2017 will see the creation of up to 4 scholarships to 2 male and 2 female graduating high school basketball players. The scholarships will be presented as part of the Basketball Manitoba Awards in April 2018. The remaining proceeds from the event will be donated to CancerCare Manitoba.
The venue is being graciously donated by the University of Winnipeg and all MABO referees will be volunteering their time to work the games. Basketball Manitoba is able to insure all participants for the weekend and aided with promotional and operations support.2017 Balling for the Cure Basketball Tournament
Dates: Friday August 25, Saturday August 26, Saturday August 26, 2017
Deadline to Register: August 1, 2017
Times: Friday, 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Location: University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre - 400 Spence Street (see map below)
Admission: Donations will be accepted at the door as admission into the tournament
The tournament is looking for age 18+ male and female teams to make up the tournament. Deadline to registrar at team is August 1, 2017. Space is limited so register your team today! Those interested can contact Donovan at donovandgayle@gmail.com or message him at 204-979-2410.
Donations to the Basketball for Life Fund for the scholarships and to CancerCare Manitoba will be accepted at the door plus the Canadian Blood Services will be on site educating people about the need for blood donations. If you would like to assist with this cause, you can donate to the Basketball for Life Fund online by CLICKING HERE. Select the 'Basketball MB - Basketball for Life Fund' in the projects area when prompted. TOURNAMENT SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
_________________________________
CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL SCREEN LIVE SCHEDULE & RESULTS
To view this information properly on a smartphone, rotate your device to a 'landscape' position to see all the data. SELECT THE D1 or D2 TAB BELOW
SCROLL LEFT AND RIGHT TO SEE FULL SCHEDULE
Donovan Gayle...
- "I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of the players who participated and gave up their weekend to make the 2nd annual “Balling for the Cure” Cancer Awareness basketball event a great success. I could not have done this without all of your support and commitment to this cause which I hold very close to my heart, and for that I am truly grateful. Your participation and involvement in this event has contributed to the cure and prevention of cancer, as well as improving the outcomes and quality of life for Manitobans with Leukemia. Next year “Balling for the Cure” will be back and I look forward to hopefully seeing you all back on the court with me!"
 |
| Basketball Manitoba's Adam Wedlake (left) along with Donovan Gayle (right) present the $3000 to CancerCare Manitoba |
Donovan Gayle’s life took a turn on June 9, 2013, that the former BU Bobcats player and assistant coach never expected. Gayle, who was born in Jamaica and moved to Canada at the age of 16, found some blood in his saliva as he was finishing up playing a pick-up game of basketball. After going to a walk-in clinic the next day, the doctor said that it wasn't a chest infection, and that he should go to the emergency room to have some tests run. The tests resulted in Donovan being diagnosed with leukemia.
When the doctor told him the news, Gayle says that he couldn't believe it. “I was like, ‘How is that possible? I’m a 32-year-old guy, very active, I don’t smoke, I don’t drink.”
After another blood test in Winnipeg came back with the same result – acute leukemia, which requires aggressive treatment – Donovan stayed in the hospital for a month in order to start chemotherapy treatment immediately. After leaving the hospital, another test was performed. It found that the cancer was not in remission, and he had to continue treatment at an out-patient clinic. Future rounds of treatment went much better, with little to no negative symptoms, allowing more treatments to be done in relatively rapid succession.
He was also told that he would require a bone marrow transplant. The first person they tested for a match was his sister. Fortunately, she was a match, saving Donovan from having to rely on the national blood bank. “Thank god for that,” he praises.
As an appreciation for all the support that he received while battling the disease.
For more information on CancerCare Manitoba, please visit http://www.cancercare.mb.ca
VIEW 2014 EVENT PHOTO GALLERY
VIEW 2015 EVENT PHOTO GALLERY
VIEW 2016 EVENT PHOTO GALLERY
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The tournament organizers are looking for support from local businesses like yours to make the tournament a success.
Sponsorship Levels:
$750 – Tournament Title Name Sponsor
- Title sponsor of the tournament
- Logo placement and recognition online and on all tournament information
$500 – Court Sponsor
- Have your company’s logo, name and information at a court during the tournament
- Logo placement and recognition online and on all tournament information
$250 – Silver Sponsor
- Logo placement and recognition online and on all tournament information
Please contact Kyle Vince at vinceke29@gmail.com or 204-510-5349 to inquire more on how you can support the event or if you have any questions.