SCHEDULE RELEASED: The Ballin' for the Cure Basketball Tournament organized by Donovan Gayle has announced that it will return for a third year on August 26-27, 2016 at the University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre. The inaugural event raised $3000 and last year brought in $4650 for CancerCare Manitoba. Year 3 is looking to pass the $5000 point! The 2016 event will feature 10 senior men's teams.DONATE DIRECTLY TO CANCERCARE MANITOBA
100% of all team fees will be donated directly to the cause with the venue 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.
2016 Ballin' for the Cure Basketball Tournament
Dates: Friday August 26, Saturday August 27, 2016
Times: Friday, 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: University of Winnipeg Duckworth Centre - 400 Spence Street (see map below)
Admission: Donations to CancerCare Manitoba will be accepted at the door as admission into the tournament
The tournament is looking for another 3-4 to round out the schedule to the 10 teams. Those interested in putting a men's age 18+ team can contact Donovan at donovandgayle@gmail.com or message him at 204-979-2410.
Donations 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.
Full schedule with teams will be announced in mid-August
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100% of all team fees were donated directly to the cause with the venue being graciously donated by the University of Winnipeg and all MABO referees volunteering their time to work the games. Basketball Manitoba was able to insure all participants for the weekend and aided with promotional and operations support.Donovan would like to thank all the supporters of the event including the volunteers who helped with score keeping, collecting donations at the door along with Ian McCarton at the University of Winnipeg, Wes Crymble at MABO and Adam Wedlake and Basketball Manitoba for all their support.
He commented...
- "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!"
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| Basketball Manitoba's Adam Wedlake (left) along with Donovan Gayle (right) present the $3000 to CancerCare Manitoba |
Donovan's Story
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