EVENT EMPOWERS ATHLETES OF ALL ABILITIES TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAM
Saturday, November 13, 2021, marked the 10th annual Laura’s Love Memorial Event at the South Shore YMCA Emilson Branch. Community members joined together for a day of tournaments and fun while raising over $40,000 to benefit adaptive sports programs at the South Shore YMCA, including the Lob-Stars adaptive tennis team.
Each year, the South Shore YMCA’s Laura’s Love Memorial Event is held to raise funds that benefit adaptive and inclusion sports programming at the South Shore YMCA. The tournament is held in memory of Laura Emilson-Riekert, whose involvement and passion for the YMCA’s inclusion programs helped countless children in our community to flourish as part of a team. Laura’s Center for the Arts was inaugurated in 2013 to honor Emilson-Riekert, who passed away in 2011. The Laura’s Love Memorial Event carries her spirit each year to our community.
“Laura’s Love has a special place in my heart,” says Michelle Daley, Membership Experience Director of the Emilson YMCA. “My son participates in the Lob-Stars adaptive tennis program. I absolutely love the program and love this event. I already can’t wait for next year”.
To get more of the community involved, this year the Y offered other ways to participate beyond tennis. “This year we expanded our Laura’s Love event to offer pickleball and cornhole tournaments, along with our traditional tennis tournaments,” said Senior Director of Tennis for the South Shore YMCA Bob Carroll. “Everyone had a blast, we got to share this special day with more of our community. We all came together for a great cause.”
“This is my seventh Laura’s Love event, and every year we offer a stronger program,” shared Dan Berry, Executive Director of the Emilson YMCA in Hanover. “Over the years we’ve extended the reach of this event to do more with adaptive programming at our Y. The funds raised at this event supports our Lob-Stars adaptive tennis program, along with more adaptive programs at our Quincy and Emilson Y branches, allowing us to offer scholarships to individuals who otherwise would not be able to participate in these programs.”
Jim Lawson, one of the Lob-Star adaptive tennis team coaches, was awarded the Unsung Hero Award at the Laura’s Love Memorial Event. “I have been a volunteer coach for the Lob-Stars for about 12 years, I got involved when my son Andrew wanted to take up playing tennis,” said Lawson. Andrew Lawson was an active member at the Emilson YMCA on the Lob-Star tennis team before he passed away in 2018 following a courageous battle with cancer. His father Jim continues to coach the Lob-Stars, spending every Sunday on the courts encouraging team members.
“Jim is a huge part of the Lob Stars. It would have been so easy for him to leave after Andrew passed, but he stayed to cope with his loss,” said Carroll. “He’s here every week, on the courts, teaching our team.”
“I want to thank the Lob-Stars for always playing with the highest level of sportsmanship,” said Lawson. “It has been a privilege working with this team, I can’t wait for our next event!”
