Team Elite will host their annual co-ed slow-pitch softball tournament fundraiser on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at Mike Miller Park in Draffenville, KY. The tournament will begin at 8:00 AM.
This year’s beneficiary will be Valor Analisia Reyes, daughter of Timothy and Lanie Reyes. Valor, “Val,” was born on January 24, 2019. She came into this world nothing less than perfect and weighing in at a strong eight pounds, two ounces.
The family got about four weeks with her before their world turned upside down, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital becoming their second home. While visiting their pediatrician during a routine check-up on February 27, 2019, Val began seizing. They were rushed to Vanderbilt, and life as they knew it vanished. She was diagnosed with epilepsy and placed on her first of multiple anti-seizure medications. In a brief two years, she has been hospitalized 20 times. Near the end of 2019, she lost the ability to eat and drink by mouth, which resulted in her becoming feeding tube dependent. Valor tried several anti-seizure medications, even turning to natural remedies and CBD—none brought the relief they were desperately searching for.
Alongside the failed medications, she has endured months of physical therapy and multiple EEG, MRI, and CT scans to search for a portion of her brain that could possibly be removed and result in freedom from seizures. All tests were unsuccessful.
On September 30, 2020 she was diagnosed with a form of hemophilia and placed on a medication to help clot her blood. This drug has since failed her, and in February 2021, she began infusions through a port in the hospital.
Valor’s mother shares, “The hardest part about receiving Val’s diagnosis is learning it’s genetic. She has four mutated genes in the brain, and there is no cure, and although she looks “normal,” she will spend the rest of her life fighting for the health of her brain.”
Valor has many cheerleaders in her life, but her five-year-old sister, Peyton, is among the most dedicated. She has stood by her sister in this battle all along and offers cheer and emotional support to Valor.
You’re invited to participate in Team Elite’s 8th Annual Pick-a-Kid Softball Tournament to raise funds for the Reyes family. If you would like to join the fun, you will need to form a team with a minimum of seven men and three women above the age of 16. A total of 12 teams will be able to play. Once you have your team, contact Corey Downey at 270-227-3668.
Want to be involved from the sidelines? No problem! Stop by the event on April 3rd to cast your bid on silent auction items, participate in the 50/50 raffle, and cheer on the players. Team Elite is also accepting silent auction donation items, monetary donations, and volunteer work (working raffle/auctions, check in, day-of operations, etc.).
To find more information on this event, you can find the organization on Facebook: Team Elite Pick-a-Kid Fundraiser. You can also find this year’s event page on Facebook: Team Elite’s 8th Annual Pick a Kid Fundraiser. Again, please contact Corey at 270-227-3668 if you’d like to be involved in any way.
This event is volunteer driven, and all proceeds will go to the family. We hope you mark your calendar for April 3rd to come out and enjoy a full day of fun to support this local family in their difficult journey.
