Calling all pickleball enthusiasts! Prepare to serve up some goodwill at the highly anticipated Guns and Hoses & Be Assure Paddle Battle Benefit Tournament. You can serve, volley, and dink with your teammate. Pool play will start at 11 AM in Oakdale Park. This event promises a day filled with competitive pickleball action and community camaraderie - all in support of a local family. Food Trucks and Sno Cones will be available for purchase."We're thrilled to host this tournament that not only celebrates the fun of pickleball but allows us to support a Salina child and his family." - Michael Asher
Meet Ezra
Meet 3-year-old Ezra! In May 2024, Ezra was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. A bulge in the middle of his chest turned out to be a 16-inch tumor on his liver and multiple tumors in his lungs. With the liver tumor touching his heart, Ezra endured six rounds of chemo in an attempt to shrink it before having his first surgery in August 2024. In September he had double lung surgery where 17 tumors were removed from his lungs. Pathology reports showed a more aggressive cancer, Hepatocellular Neoplasm NOS. This finding put him in the stage 4 category and Ezra was diagnosed as “terminal.” Children's Mercy gave him the best they had to offer and advised to seek a second opinion. Ezra was accepted by Cincinnati Ohio Children's Blood and Cancer Institute for research in clinical trials to shrink the lung tumors, which were coming back more aggressively. After two months in Ohio, they decided to transfer care back to Children's Mercy. Ezra just had his second double lung surgery, removing three more tumors. Ezra is a strong, brave little hero, and his mom (Breann), stepdad (Frank), and two brothers (8 and 5) are by his side, cheering him on!