COLUMBIA, Pa. — The central Pennsylvania community will come together this weekend to help those struggling with addiction.
Public figures, local businesses and behavioral health providers will be at the 11th Annual Nicole Conway Recovery Volleyball Tournament to raise funds and provide resources. The tournament celebrates the power of recovery, resilience and the gift of second chances.
The event got its start in 2013 after Nicole Conway lost her life to substance use disorder. Organizers first started the tournament to help to support her son.
"The event itself directly benefits children who have lost their parents to overdose and mental illness," Benjamin McCoy, chief executive officer for Blueprints for Addiction Recovery Inc., said.
People of all walks of life are invited to attend the event, from individuals in recovery who want to share their stories to allies who wish to offer support.
The tournament has grown every year since its inception. Organizers say the list of recipients has increased annually, and they were able to add a motorcycle benefit ride.
"It is, first and foremost, to have fun. To celebrate that recovery is possible and that lives are consistently transformed in recovery," McCoy said. "But more than that, it's to really showcase the services and resources that exist in our community, in Lancaster County and York County and south central Pennsylvania."
This year’s event is presented by the Recovery Opportunity & Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity that manages a fund directly benefiting children who have lost their parents to overdose.
Those who would like to support the cause but cannot attend the event may make a donation online or by calling Blueprints at 717-361-1660. Anyone still looking to register a volleyball team can also do so at the above link.
The volleyball tournament will take place at Fairview Park in Columbia, Lancaster County from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Aug. 24. Guests do not have to play to attend the tournament; the community is invited out to watch and help support the cause.