Non-profit holds cornhole tournament
May 26—Cornhole was something Neal Sears cherished when he was first starting his journey in recovery. It is what gave him his idea to organize The Battle of the Bluegrass — a special cornhole tournament held over the weekend.
"I am trying to reach different rehabs and different 12 step fellowship clubhouses and get everybody together and bring some unity to the bonds," Sears said. "When I was out in active addiction and alcoholism, I used to love to get wild and play cornhole. So if I liked to do that I'm sure people in rehab liked to do that as well."
All proceeds from the tournament benefitted the Kentucky Crusade — a non-profit which focuses on substance use disorder recovery. It is just one of several out of the box fundraisers Sears has organized. Past Kentucky Crusade events include a chicken wing (or "wang," as Sears gleefully pronounced the word) eating contest in March.
Dry Dock and Liberty Place took home first and second place at the tournament, respectively. Players and spectators got to enjoy hot dogs off the grill during the festivities.
The Kentucky Crusade is in the midst of raising money to build or rent a facility used to serve hot meals to the community.
"We're trying to get enough money up to where we can get us a building. Whether it be rent or whatever and get a commercial sized kitchen in that building so we can go back on the streets and serve the people in our community. A good hot meal," Sears said.
Sears thinks that seeing people in recovery participate in things like the Battle of the Bluegrass is encouraging for friends and family members who may still be struggling with substance use disorder.
"When they get out, their family and friends may still be in active addiction or alcoholism... If they can see all of us in here today playing cornhole sober that might give them like an initiative or incur encouragement," Sears said. "They're coming here for cornhole and they're gonna get some shots of hope as well."
