Rumble For The Refuge Raises $1,100
The second annual Rumble for the Refuge Disc Golf Tournament, held on Saturday, April 11, at J.R. Trippe Middle School, was a fundraising success, as over $1,100 was raised for the Refuge Domestic Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Center.
The event first began last year when three Leadership Greater Vidalia class members were seeking a way to give back to the community. As a part of the Leadership Greater Vidalia program, class members are split into several small groups that meet regularly, as participants work to craft mission statements about their unique desires in their life and seek ways to play an active role in their community. Each participant completes a community project, either by themselves or with their small groups, in which they work hands-on in the community to help improve the area.
Rhett Carter, Stephanie Richardson, Marley Meeks, and Small Group Coach Ame Lane decided to focus their efforts on raising money for The Refuge Domestic Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Center through a disc golf tournament.
“I'm obsessed with disc golf and always talking about it, so Ame suggested incorporating that into our project by putting on a tournament for a local organization. Since I run the JR Trippe Disc Golf Club, I had a course we could use and kids that would play in our youth division,” Carter shared. “We all threw out some options for who to benefit with the raised funds and The Refuge was everyone's first choice. [The Refuge Executive Director] Betty Dell [Williams] is my brother's mother-in-law, so I have known her for years. She didn't hesitate when I asked her about it! After our session there we found out what a need it serves here in our community and we knew we had made the right choice.”
The group met several times to design the tournament, and enlisted the help of Montgomery County Citizen Haley McKie to design a logo and make t-shirts and plaques for the event. Carter shared that even J.R. Trippe Middle School contributed to the project by purchasing additional disc golf baskets to ensure the school’s course was suited for an 18-hole tournament.
The tournament was a success, and many participants shared they would be interested in participating again in the tournament if it was held annually. Thus, organizers Carter and Richardson came together again, as they worked to raise money for a cause close to their hearts.
A total of 44 participants teed off on Saturday, April 11, each vying for the plaque and bragging rights. Ultimately, Stella Rose Carter took home the top prize for the Youth Female Division, Camden Carter clinched first place in the Youth Male Division, Amy Swint took home the gold in the Women’s Division, and Stuart McKie successfully defended his title, winning the Male Division for the second year in a row.
“'This was our second year of putting on the Rumble for The Refuge. We were blessed with fantastic weather and tremendous support from the disc golf community in our area. Very thankful to Stephanie Richardson and Trane for collecting our CTP prizes and running the registration and scorers table. Stuart and Haley McKie for our plaques and tshirts again. Doug Achenbach for donating discs for CTP prizes as well. Very fortunate to raise $1100 for The Refuge and help with the mission of assisting our area's women in need. It is a very incredible organization and very worthy of our support,” Carter emphasized.
The competition will continue to be held each Spring to raise money for the Refuge. Next year’s tournament date will be announced in coming months.
A WORTHY CAUSE – The Rumble for the Refuge Disc Golf Tournament raises money annually for the Refuge Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Shelter. This year, Tournament Organizers presented the Refuge with a check for $1,100, which was raised during the tournament. (L to R): Rhett Carter, Sexual Assault Center Coordinator Heather Williams, Stephanie Richardson, The Refuge Executive Director Betty Dell Williams.
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
