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Skylar Rae Barber

<p>A dodgeball tournament that began as a fundraiser for a boy in need has grown to partner with healthcare and charity organizations to benefit many children and adults with disabilities.</p><p>In its eighth year, the annual Zachary Shoemaker Dodgeball Tourney, which organizers claim is the largest in the area, will partner with Ryan&#8217;s Run to help a wider range of people who require rehabilitation and therapeutic treatment for ongoing conditions.</p><p>The tournament, presented by First National Community Bank, will take place at the 109th Armory on Sunday, Sept. 20, beginning at 11 a.m. Combining efforts with Ryan Leckey&#8217;s yearly campaign to raise money for Allied Services will allow the event to affect the quality of living of thousands, and organizers are calling it the largest charity partnership in Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p>The WNEP-TV personality&#8217;s initiative has entered several teams in the tournament and is expected to expand awareness of the cause.</p><p>When Zachary was only 4 years old, he was in a one-car accident with his mother. The injuries he sustained left him with extensive, permanent brain damage. Since then, the boy has needed continual medical attention.</p><p>The double-elimination style tournament accepts teams of eight people at a cost of $15 per person, during early registration, and $20 per person during last-minute registration. Registration for this year&#8217;s tournament is over, but donations may be made at dodgeball4zack.org. Those not on a team are invited to attend the event and take part in cheering and auctions.</p><p>Area businesses have chipped in to donate money and in-kind items that will be auctioned off in gift baskets at the event, and some are participating on the sponsorship level.</p><p>Donations include two round-trip tickets to New York City from Martz Trailways, a four-pack of tickets to Roba Family Farms and ski passes to Elk Mountain Ski Resort. Sponsors include Rainbow Jewelers, Pierce Street Motors and the Pepsi Co. Bottling Company.</p><p>Stephanie Sikora is Zachary&#8217;s godmother and a long time friend of his parents, Traci and Jason Shoemaker. She organized the inaugural event to help them through their difficulties in the first year after the accident and has been the event director since.</p><p>Through the first seven years, the event has raised $25,000 for the Shoemaker family, Heinz Rehab, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Pediatra, Healthcare for Kids. Last year&#8217;s effort yielded $5,100. This year&#8217;s tournament has 26 registered teams and is expecting around 800 people to be in attendance to support the cause.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re fortunate that we&#8217;ve been able to branch out and support other organizations that help children and adults with special needs, broadening the tourney&#8217;s reach and impact,&#8221; Sikora said. &#8220;This endeavor began as a one-time solution to help Zack&#8217;s family get through the toughest time of their lives and has grown to help hundreds of other families. I think it&#8217;s a local, real example of the impact one person can make by stepping up to make a difference.&#8221;</p><p>Sikora, who directs the organization of the tournament from Pittsburgh where she resides, said the tournament means more to the family than just the money raised. She said Zach responds positively to the energy around him at each year&#8217;s event and becomes more responsive.</p><p>&#8220;I think the greatest benefit to the Shoemaker family is all of the support we&#8217;ve built for Zack throughout the community,&#8221; Sikora said. &#8220;The money is, of course, critical because it helps the family provide things to make Zack&#8217;s life better, easier and healthier. But at least one day each year, hundreds of people come together to channel support, hope and positive energy to Zack and his parents and that&#8217;s something they keep with them all year through.&#8221;</p><p>Zack, who is usually in attendance at the tournament, will likely miss this year&#8217;s event, because he is being treated for pneumonia in the hospital as he sometimes needs assistance to recover from illness.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a bummer that he won&#8217;t be there, but it&#8217;s a surefire example of why the tournament is so important,&#8221; Sikora said.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Tourney1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dodgeball teams at play inside the Kingston Armory during a past tournament for Zack Shoemaker. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Tourney1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dodgeball teams at play inside the Kingston Armory during a past tournament for Zack Shoemaker. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_faceoff1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Two teams faceoff before the start of a dodgeball game to benefit adults and children with disabilities. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_faceoff1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Two teams faceoff before the start of a dodgeball game to benefit adults and children with disabilities. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Dodge1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Members of several teams bring their hands together in support of the cause to raise money for those in need of therapy and rehabilitation services. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_Dodge1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Members of several teams bring their hands together in support of the cause to raise money for those in need of therapy and rehabilitation services. </caption2><photoCredit2>Submitted | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Eight annual Zachary Shoemaker Tourney partners with Ryan&#8217;s Run to help the disabled</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Kingston dodgeball tournament benefits Shoemaker family and many more