Tournament coming May 13 benefitting Wes Shealey Fund for ALS Support

Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Brian Brosmer

Fishers resident, Wes Shealey, wants you to help kick ALS in the cornhole.

Shealey, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2015, is promoting a fundraiser to raise awareness of ALS and funds for ALS research.

It’s called the “Kick ALS In the Cornhole Tournament,” a night of socializing benefitting the Wes Shealey Fund for ALS Support. The tournament will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at Fishers Sports Academy, 12910 Ford Drive.

Shealey, who still works full-time for ASI, which produces architectural signs for high schools, businesses and health care organizations, promises the tournament will be a festive night of food, drinks and fun for everyone (not just the cornhole tournament participants). There will also be a silent auction from 5 to 8 p.m. as well.

Last year’s inaugural tournament raised more than $28,000.

“It will be a great time for everyone,” Shealey says. “It was a lot of fun last year. We had almost 300 people.”

Shealey, a friendly announcer at all of the Fishers High School boys baseball games, says he likes to do “as much as I can for as long as I can.”

“I try to keep things normal,” he says. “The school has been very accommodating to me. So far, this hasn’t affected my speech, so I’m able to keep doing what I love, which is announcing. This is my sixth year announcing baseball games.”

Shealey first started to have health problems when he was training for both the Mini-Marathon and The Geist Half Marathon in 2014.

“I started having ‘drop feet,’ and I would drop and fall down while training leading up to the Mini,” Shealey recalls. “I would be all right for 10 to 12 miles, and then I would hit a wall.”

Shealey noted it took over a year to be diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, but he said he his wife, Jennifer, hasn’t let it stop them from keeping things as normal as they can.

“We stay very busy with family and friends,” he says. “I also do the announcing at the Fishers Boys Football and Basketball games, and I have coached a fall high school baseball league, too.”

Shealey’s son, Ben, a 2015 Fishers High School graduate, played baseball at the school. Their daughter, Brittany, graduated from Fishers High School in 2009.

“My family and friends have been overwhelmingly supportive during this,” Shealey says. “They have all been wonderful.”

Shealey, who originally hails from Shreveport, Louisiana, is quite popular at the Fishers High School Baseball games, hosting a large number of friends in his Tigers popup tent before the games begin. Many people come up to talk baseball, find how he’s feeling or to simply give him or Jennifer a handshake or a hug.

ALS Walk 2016

Shealey, a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church, said the church started his foundation to help raise funds for his expenses.

“We are doing all we can to raise awareness and funds for ALS research and fund a cure,” Shealey says. “This is not just for me. This is also for other people long after me who suffer from this disease. The tournament is a great way to do that.”

The tournament will include two-player teams with each team paying $100, which includes four drink tickets and two tickets for the drawing for either a HSE or Fishers cornhole set. It’s a double-elimination tournament and is limited to 64 teams.

Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place. A non-participant cost is $25 per person, which includes two drink tickets. Sponsorships are welcome.

Shealey, who has lived in Fishers for more than 20 years, stressed that he and the tournament have already been supported strongly.

“The Fishers community is like one big family to me,” Shealey says. “I have my Fishers High School baseball family, my church family and my amazing family. I am constantly surrounded by so much love and support. I have no idea where I would be without all of them.”

For tournament participation registration and non-participant tickets, go to FishersSportsAcademy.com and select “Wes Shealey Benefit” in the top right menu line.

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