FSJ Hospital Foundation receives $13K+ from 1-Pitch Tournament

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation has received one last donation from the Arnie Isberg Memorial 1-Pitch Tournament to support the cancer clinic. 

The tournament’s 15th and final edition was held on June 19 for three days at the baseball diamonds in the District of Taylor. 

According to a Facebook post on the foundation’s page, $13,299.64 was donated this year to support the cancer clinic at Fort St. John Hospital. 

Megan Rader, the foundation’s executive director, said this tournament has left an “extraordinary legacy.” 

“[The] money is going towards our cancer diagnostic and treatment fund,” she noted. 

“They’ve been able to sponsor and fund quite a few different pieces of equipment for our cancer centre over the past 15 years.” 

The event began in 2012 as a tribute to Arnie Isberg by his brother, Vern Isberg. Arnie, who was born and raised in Fort St. John and moved to Alberta in 2010, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away the following year. 

The tournament has raised a total of $218,985.92 over the past 15 years.

Rader said, “It’s so much more than a tournament, there are so many people who are involved, [and] it’s actually more of a place to heal.” 

Although the foundation is sad to see the tournament end, it is grateful for the lasting impact the tournament has had on the hospital.

Over the years, through the donations from the tournament, the foundation was able to purchase a chemo chair and a biopsy gun for the cancer clinic. 

This year, Rader said, “We haven’t currently allocated the funds to a piece of equipment…but as soon as we have a piece of equipment the cancer clinic puts forward, then we can use these funds to fill that need as soon as possible.”

Rader believes this tournament has always been about remembering lost ones, supporting those who are still fighting and celebrating those who have overcome their challenges. 

“I just want to thank all the players, organizers, sponsors, volunteers and anyone who’s been involved in the tournament over the last 15 years,” she added. 

“This is a staggering donation, and it really is a testament to what we can achieve when we all come together. So we’re just incredibly thankful at the hospital foundation.”