Inaugural ‘Darren Turner Memorial’ tournament raises more than $8,000 for youth sports

Tara Jeffrey When the inaugural Darren Turner Memorial Two-Pitch Tournament was announced this summer, registration was full in a matter of hours.

Tara Jeffrey

When the inaugural Darren Turner Memorial Two-Pitch Tournament was announced this summer, registration was full in a matter of hours.

“Before the day was out, we had eight ladies’ and eight mens’ teams,” said Randy Pauling, who helped organize the tournament held at the Corunna Athletic Park last weekend, in memory of Turner — a longtime community volunteer who passed away earlier this year.

“We were just trying to figure out a way to be able to show our appreciation for all that Darren did for the ball community.”

Pauling, along with fellow Corunna Minor Athletic Association executive member Chris VanGrimberghe, and the Turner family, decided the funds raised would go towards the Darren Turner Memorial Fund, established to help cover the costs of youth sports.

“Just a way to get more kids out on the field,” he said. “Something Darren was all about.

“We knew we wanted to do a raffle to try and raise as much money as possible for the inaugural event,” Pauling said, noting that the response from local businesses was ‘overwhelming,’ from Antonio’s providing pizza, to Mooretown Minor Hockey donating a free registration for next season.

“I mean, I didn’t get a no.”

More than $8,000 was raised in one day.

Planning is already underway for next year at CAP, where a memorial bench has been installed in Turner’s memory.