---

News and Events

Team Tony Dodgeball Tournament: April 17th, 2011

More than 250 people showed up to the first annual Team Tony Foundation Dodgeball Tournament at the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota on April 17. The event was held to raise money to help fight cancer and help those who are currently dealing with the disease.

The Foundation, in its first year, was started by Tony McEachern as a way for people who have dealt with cancer to help people that are currently going through it.

Not to discredit counselors from a wellness center, McEachern said it is different for a cancer patient to have support from someone who has dealt with and survived cancer.

"You can talk to a counselor who’s gone through counseling school, but they really haven’t been in the trenches fighting cancer," McEachern said. "In the middle of it, it’s a little different. We are helping patients who have been diagnosed based on our experience. Cancer support from cancer survivors."

The support based on experience was something McEachern said was missing while he had brain cancer. "I had a ton of support from family and friends and a little support from people who were diagnosed," McEachern said. "[It] would have been nice to have a little more".

"We’ve been fighting cancer for years, we’ve been in the trenches and we are here to support those that are in it now," McEachern said. "We can make it easier for others. If you can make it a little easier, why wouldn’t you?"

McEachern said the dodgeball tournament raised around $5,000 but the final tally is not in yet. He said the organization would do two big events a year. In the fall, Team Tony is planning a bike ride across the state of Florida.

"So far everything has exceeded our expectation," McEachern said.

For more information about Team Tony or to donate, email tony@teamtony.org.