Published: July 04, 2008 01:37 am            

EVENTS: Disc golf fundraiser is Saturday on Grand Island

GRAND ISLAND — A unique athletic event is celebrating the life of a unique young man at a special event on Saturday. The Leon D. Carr Memorial Disc Golf Tournament and Fundraiser will be held starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday at the Blue Heron Disc Golf Course at Beaver Island State Park.

Leon Carr, 29, of Grand Island, lost his life this past winter at Holiday Valley Ski Resort, pursuing a sport he loved — snowboarding. He was an experienced snowboarder and was wearing his helmet at the time, but the injuries he sustained were too severe.

A chef who was locally famous for his one-of-a-kind soups and specials at the Village Inn restaurant on Grand Island, he pursued life with a joy and enthusiasm that drew people to him, his friends and family say.

Those who knew him say if you name a sport, he did it with grace and ease — softball, jogging, bicycling, camping, hacky sack, frisbee.

One of his favorite pursuits was disc golf at Beaver Island State Park.

Disc golf is played with a type of frisbee that is tossed to land in a series of 18 wire basket-like “holes.” The sport is gaining popularity at local courses such as those at Beaver Island, Joseph Davis and Evangola state parks.

It is in his honor and memory that his friends and family are holding the tournament. Tee time is at 9 a.m., and the fundraiser follows at noon.

The event is being held to raise money to cover the funeral and medical costs incurred by the family and to establish an annual scholarship fund to be given in his name.

Carr was a graduate of Grand Island High School and Erie Community College, from which he graduated with honors. His girlfriend, Sarah T. Gurbacki, remembers “his strong sense of family, his ability to make friends with everyone he met, and his true generosity, even to strangers.”

Organizers also hope proceeds eventually can fund a skiing/snowboarding safety awareness program, as well as youth activities in the Grand Island community.

Besides the tournament, the fundraiser will include raffles, a Chinese auction, food and drink, live bands and family activities.

Donations are welcome, including items of value, gift certificates, gift baskets or monetary contributions. There also is an opportunity to sponsor one of the 18 holes on the disc golf course for the day of the tournament. To sponsor a hole, a business or individual can donate a monetary gift, as you see fit, to the memorial fund in exchange for a sponsorship sign at a disc golf hole and inclusion on the fundraiser Web site.

Donations can be sent to: Leon D. Carr Memorial Fund, PO Box 924, Grand Island, NY 14072. For more information or to register, visit the fundraiser Web site at www.leondcarr.com, or contact Christina at 812-7617 or Adam at 909-9836.



IF YOU GO

WHAT: Leon D. Carr Memorial Disc Golf Tournament and Fundraiser

WHEN: Saturday. Tee time: 9 a.m.; fundraiser: noon

WHERE: Blue Heron Disc Golf Course, Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island

EVENTS: Disc golf tournament, followed by raffles, Chinese auction, food and drink, 2 live bands, family activities

WHY: To raise funds to cover funeral and medical costs incurred by the family and to establish an annual scholarship to be given in Carr’s name

LONG-TERM GOAL: To also fund a skiing/snowboarding safety awareness program and to support youth activities in the Grand Island community

        

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