KEKAHA — The common bond of family members being cancer victims brought 14 softball teams together at the Kekaha Field for a softball tournament that raised over $5,000 to help Cody Kangiser with his family’s medical expenses related to the
KEKAHA — The common bond of family members being cancer victims brought 14 softball teams together at the Kekaha Field for a softball tournament that raised over $5,000 to help Cody Kangiser with his family’s medical expenses related to the 11-year-old’s battle with cancer and diabetes.
Shirley Sam Fong was the spearhead of the tournament that bought teams from around the island as well as members of the University of Hawai‘i girls softball team together for a weekend of fellowship in a common bond of helping the Oregon youngster with his personal battle against cancer.
Souvenir tee-shirts, food plates, a home run derby, team entry fees, and a post-tournament luau on Sunday night all contributed to the overall gain to help defray Cody’s medical expenses, which to date exceed $325,000.
Kaua‘i’s involvement with the St. Helens, Oregon youngster came about because Cody’s grandparents Lawrence ‘Blackie,’ and Midge Asai are both residents here which triggered help from the related extended Kaneholani ohana.
Cody’s mom, Naomi Asai, was once one of the pa‘u riders for the Kamehameha Day and Aloha Week parades that once flourished here.
Several months ago, Cody was diagnosed with two cancerous brain tumors to go along with his diabetic condition.
This started the youngster on a path of escalating medical expenses as he underwent extensive chemo-therapy programs as part of his recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, Kaua‘i relatives could not stand idly by while the youngster battled for his life, and while praying for his recovery, organized a very successful car wash at Kukui Grove.
More fundraisers came in the guise of manning the food booth at the recent Heiva I Kaua‘i, and followed up with the successful softball tournament in Kekaha over the weekend.
One spectator in attendance at the tournament said the awards presentation was especially touching when Cody’s mom just happened to call during the presentation, and after rigging up a speaker-phone setup, was able to personally thank each of the players for their support of her son.
Asai said that Cody is in his final week of chemotherapy, and the outcome looks promising as the tumors have shrunk a little.
A friend of the family recently returned from Oregon where she was able to meet with Asai, and said that fundraisers occur there as well with a concert scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Milwaukie Elks Club in Portland.
That event will feature Hawaiian style food as well as performances by The Halau of Keala O Kamailelauli‘ili‘i and Bill Keale.
A Zippy’s chili fundraiser is also taking place on O‘ahu while back at home, a car wash at the Longs Drug Store in Waipouli will take place Sunday.
In the near future, the motorcycle enthusiasts plan a fund-raising ride on Sept. 14 starting from the steps of the Historic County Building in Lihu‘e.
As for the winners of the tournament, the outpouring of aloha and support for the 11-year-old Oregonian with Kaua‘i ties dominated the Kekaha Park, with Wi No Kea taking the title of the men’s division and Aino Kea (comprised of University of Hawai‘i girls softball players) taking the women’s division.
Kodi Oyama banged a total of three homers to join Teddy Perreira’s five, and Tyrus Matsumoto’s pair to lay claim to the Home Run Derby, Matsumoto having to go into a tie-breaker with Ryan Lee for his share of the title.
