Community will take a swing at raising funds for boy with cancer
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MORRISTOWN -- A co-ed softball tournament with food trucks, T-shirt sales and raffles will take place Sept. 7 to raise money for a 5-year-old boy with cancer.
Doctors diagnosed Cam Greiner with ALL-B cells leukemia on July 4. Greiner has since spent his time at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital finishing eight weeks of chemotherapy before he receives a bone marrow biopsy and cryogenic bloodwork to determine what other steps will be taken.
Color Me Madd salon in Morristown will be hosting the fundraiser because owner Rosie Johnson wanted to help her longtime friend Karen Greiner, Cam's grandmother.
"I wanted to donate our time, but it wouldn't have been enough," Johnson said. "I just thought it'd be a nice thing for everybody to come and join together. And Cam loves baseball, too."
Johnson grew up with Karen as a big part of her life and now does her hair at the salon, which is how she found out about Cam's diagnosis.
She said Karen Greiner does a lot for the community, from taking care of Union Cemetery to helping anyone who needs it.
So, Johnson thought, this was a way to give back to her family.
"We have a long road ahead of tests, hospital visits and more chemo," Karen Greiner said. "But we trust in God for positive reports over the next few years."
She emphasized that the Greiner family is humbled, grateful and blessed with the love the Ohio Valley has shown them, and she and her husband Tag thanked the salon for its efforts.
The tournament will start at 8 a.m. Sept. 7 and run until dark at the Morrison baseball fields at Lynn Hunkler Memorial Park, 101 Old National Road in Morristown. Entry costs is $200 per team with eight teams playing in the double elimination tournament. American Softball Association rules apply, and teams will use their own balls.
Jocko's Woking Tacos and Frosty's Frozen Frenzy will be at the tournament to provide food, and South Street Apparel from Barnesville will also be there to make T-shirt sales.
Raffle baskets will also be available to win, featuring everything from shampoo bottles to Ohio State gear that the community has donated.
Johnson said she's hoping a DJ will also be present at the tournament.
Johnson and marketing coordinator for Color Me Madd and JG Cosmetique+ Taylore Frasnelly emphasized that they appreciate Vicki Burghy, the park administrator, for working with them and allowing them to use the fields.
In conjunction with Color Me Madd, JG Cosmetique+ will be hosting a raffle as well, with tickets to be purchased at at the salon or at the tournament up until the drawing on Sept. 7.
"Anyone that has cancer is tragic," said Judeana Gramlich, owner of JG Cosmetique+. "I want to do anything to help with medical bills, transportation and anything financial."
Johnson said the community can be a part of Cam's support team and rally behind him.
"The point of this is not just about raising money," she said. "It's to show Cam how much we really care."
Johnson said Cam is a good kid and is excited about people showing him love and support.
"We're all fighting this with him," she said.
Frasnelly noted she loves to be a part of a community that helps children in need and does what it can to benefit them and their families.
"Through my years of work within Belmont County, residents have proven that when it comes to a child in need, they will show up, every time," she said.
For more information, call Brittney Akers, head of the softball tournament, at 337-564-2964. People can also make donations to Karen Greiner's Venmo, which is Karen-Greiner-2.