October is National Disabilities Awareness Month and Albany ARC is celebrating with the Chuck McGarity Memorial Kickball Tournament. The event is Saturday, October 24, and will be held in Leesburg at the 166 Parks St. Complex. The event is for people of all ages and abilities.

If you met Chuck McGarity (1965 – 2014), you knew Chuck; his heart, his passion for life and his contagious smile. You also knew you were in the presence of someone special. Of course he was loved by all his family, friends, Covenant Presbyterian, Albany ARC families and his “Fan Club”.  As the Atlanta Brave’s biggest fan, Chuck was a regular at Spring Training, in their locker room, the dugout as well as Bobby Cox’s office.  Not only did he walk in with the players gate on game day but he also signed bats and balls alongside the players and was even known to go out on the field to wave and thank his fans as one of the players (Dale Murphy) was announced!

The Braves were Chuck’s passion and through his passion we witnessed life as it should be lived.  Hopefully we all learned something from him that we will carry in our hearts and show in the lives we live.  We all still feel his absence but we will never lose the part of Chuck he left with everyone he came into contact with. 

Chuck’s Albany ARC Family of 33 years couldn’t think of a more perfect way to honor Chuck’s memory and love of his Special Olympics team than by hosting the Chuck McGarity Memorial Kickball Tournament during Disabilities Awareness Month.   It is our way of saying “Game well Played Chuck!”

Registered teams will sign in from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. A special Opening Ceremony will take place at 9:00 a.m. Teams will play single elimination, 4 fields of play, max 40 minutes per game. The Trophy Presentation will follow immediately after the games. All participants will receive a T-shirt. Proceeds from the tournament will be used to fund the Albany ARC Special Olympics Program. The event sponsors are Fleming & Riles, Dal Margeson Orthodontics, Margeson, Flynn & Associates and Dental Partners of SWGA.