"In 1998 a group of concerned Courtenay citizens, including one Jim Lalic, had heard about a baby boy in their community who was critically ill awaiting a heart transplant in Toronto with his family. Uprooted from the Comox Valley, the family had no work, no money, and soon, no hope. That year, the Robbie Thompson Ball Tournament was founded, and raised countless amounts of money to help sustain Robbie and his family. Without the unbelievable generosity and fierce determination of the organizers and participants of the tournament, it's hard to say if the Thompsons could've returned and restarted their life. As a testament to the Valley's incalculable spirit, this happened not once, not twice, but three separate times.

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In 2002, Robbie was struck with Coronary Artery Disease and had to undergo another heart transplant far from home in Toronto. Not only did the family now also have to care for their newest son Luke, but it was also the SARS outbreak; with Robbie having a compromised immune system due to his vital medicine, SARS could've been deadly for him. But, yet again, the Valley stepped up and raised money to help the Thompsons.

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In the interim after the transplants, with Jim and the proverbial "old guard" at the helm, along with new and returning faces, the tournament has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help with a variety of community endeavours. These included wheelchair ramps, bursaries for graduating high school students, charity donations, other sick people in the community, and much, much more. When the cling of a metal bat against the ball rang out in Lewis Park over the sound of merriment, it was a sign that the Valley's spirit was back at full burn. It is thus ever more tragic that Jim Lalic, one of the tournament's original organizers, passed away. Many can remember Jim's boisterous laugh echoing through the ball field, greeting everyone with an eager smile. The tournament's future was uncertain, as Jim had always been capably at the forefront. However, that has not stopped the efforts of some truly remarkable Valley residents from continuing the legacy.

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Twenty years after the transplants, the need for vital aid came to Robbie again, when a disease called PTLD, a type of Lymphoma, reared its ugly head his direction. Critically sick and having to abandon his life after recently graduating University, uncertainty gripped the whole family once again. And once again, the Valley stepped up. After hearing of Robbie's situation, the organizers went above and beyond to organize not one, but two tournaments to donate money to the family. Months of aftercare and chemo later, and Robbie now is back to his life in Nanaimo. Although the shadow of sickness still trails him, the bright light of a capable medical team and the sheer, unwavering generosity of those who organize and attend the tournament ensures that shadow always remains behind him, never in front.

 

I can say this, because I, the person writing this section you read now, am Robbie Thompson. And I cannot express my gratitude. That so many people would come out of the woodwork to support my family and it nearly brings me to tears. I genuinely have no clue if we'd have made it as well as we did (all considered) through everything without that help. Bills, car payments, mortgages, etc., are stressful enough as is. Even more so when you or your child was sick. It's the secret words in between the lines when you are forced to sign the contract of severe illness. This particularly struck me in 2024, when I was battling Lymphoma. Things were already rough for a lot of people that year, and it hasn't exactly gotten better. Yet people still came out, took time out of their day, played like hell, and raised a truly incredibly amount of money. I'd also like to extend my heartfelt thanks and sorrow to Jim Lalic's family - Sophie, Marika, & Gregory, as well as towards the late Jim himself, presumably looking down with his big characteristic grin on his face. I learned how to make Greek food while doing Work Experience in Grade 12 from him, and have carried that knowledge onward, as well as the ideas of how powerful a community can be when they come together.

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From the bottom of all three of my hearts, and I suppose a lost Lymph node, I thank the organizers, participants, and supporters of this tournament. My hope is that this tournament can continue to better the lives of others as it did mine. When all is dark and dreary in the news, this tournament is a reminder that community still shines bright."