Kick-It brings people together for cancer research

FREMONT – The third annual Fremont Speedway Kick-It kickball tournament took place at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Kick-It is a national fundraising program that raises money for pediatric cancer research.

About 160 players on about 15 teams showed up to play kickball and help raise a goal of $50,000.

Shelly Liskai, event coordinator for Fremont Speedway and organizer of Saturday's Kick-It event, said the event raised $25,000 in its first year and $38,000 last year.

"We're shooting for $50,000 today. We're going to make it," she said.

The Kick-It event ran in partnership with the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation, which funds pediatric medical research, programs that improve access to treatment for children, and family support programs.

"Jeff Gordon sponsors this. He's willing to match funds dollar for dollar," said Tiffany Lewis, owner of Tiffany's Furniture and a member of Team JLH of JLH Construction. "We just love to support this. Shelly Liskai has done a lot of good things."

Liskai got involved with Kick-It after reading about the first game sponsored by Gordon.

"I called them and asked if I could get involved and start one here," she said.

Most of the team rosters were filled with local racers and fans of Fremont Speedway. Liskai believes that is why the event has succeeded each year.

"I've think it's our racers and our race fans that has made it do well," she said. "Our race community is second to none. When something happens or there's a tragedy, they always step up."

It was that willingness to give that helped inspire Liskai to organize the event.

"My dad passed away 12 years ago from Hodgkin's, and I'm the event coordinator for Fremont Speedway, so I tied it all together," she said.

In addition to racers and race fans, other teams came from local businesses and organizations such as ProMedica Memorial Hospital. Players ranged from elementary school age to retired seniors.

"We've got 13 teams here today," Lewis said. "I've got the youngest team out here. The youngest is 11."

The teams were competing for a traveling trophy, which lists the names of the previous years' winners, and the event also included a Chinese auction and a live auction. Local businesses and individuals supported the event by donating prizes, which included many race-related items such as toy cars, racing T-shirts and helmets.

Before the tournament began, the event had already received almost $15,000 in online donations.