Croquet tournament to benefit Alzheimer’s
On Sept. 6, Camelot Nursing & Rehab Center of Farmington is staging “a wicket event” to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Opting for something different than the usual golf or trivia tournament, Camelot is reviving the once popular game of croquet as a competitive sport.
Croquet was at one time the game of choice for a Sunday afternoon. Families and friends gathered, armed with mallets and a taste for controlled mayhem, to see who could make it through all nine wickets first while inflicting the most damage on opponents.
“It was, and still is, the perfect sport for people of all ages and most physical conditions,” said event organizer, Janet Douglas. “It’s fun, it’s easy to learn, not too strenuous, and it brings back memories of a slower–paced time. It’s also a great stress reliever, as there’s something very satisfying about whacking that wooden ball around the course, and knocking a few of the opponents out of the way as you go.”
The double elimination tournament for three-person teams will be played on the east lawn at Memorial United Methodist Church with registration and lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. and play beginning at 12:30. The entry team entry fee is $105, and trophies and prizes will be presented for both the top two teams in the winner and consolation brackets.
“If you can hit a golf or tennis ball, you can definitely hit a croquet ball,” Douglas said. “The rules are fairly simple, but the competition can become pretty fierce.”
Teams are encouraged to bring along their own cheering sections, as spectators are welcome. Lunch, beverages and light refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the afternoon. A Peg-Out contest and Silent Auction will be open to players and guests alike.
Course sponsorships are available at $75 each, and Peg sponsorship is $50. Sponsors’ names will be prominently displayed on the day of the event. Items for the Silent Auction are also being sought, and the donor’s name will be included in the day’s program. All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association to support their education and research.
“Camelot has an excellent special care unit for those residents who have Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” Douglas said. “But every day we see the slow degeneration this disease brings to the patient and the sorrow for his or her family. Alzheimer’s is on the rise: today, every 71 seconds a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is given, and another person begins their long-goodbye.
“At this time there is no cure …. there are no survivors. It is only through research and education that we can hope for an eventual preventative treatment or a cure to be found.”
To register a team, or become a sponsor, call Camelot at 756-8911 or send a check made to the St. Francois County Alzheimer’s Association to: Camelot Nursing and Rehab Center, 705 Grand Canyon Drive, Farmington, Mo. 63640.
