Annual Pat Vander Eyken Memorial Ladies Darts
L-R: Joanne Dudka (daughter), Nancy Mclelland (daughter), Julie O’Brien (Organizer), Lynn Kenney (Heart & Stroke), Cathy Vander Eyken (daughter), Michelle Vander Eyken (grand-daughter)

Legion Br 212 Kemptville again hosted this remarkable tournament. All proceeds raised were donated to Heart & Stroke Foundation for further research. This year a total of $2000 was raised! We were entertained by the antics of dart players as we came together to remember and celebrate the life of Pat, who passed away too soon. For the first time in the tournament’s history, a team from Kemptville was victorious! Jan Haggart, Wendy Chenier, Lesley McGhee and Jennie Bond did us proud and won the overall trophy and bragging rights for a year. Way to go ladies! Wendy Chenier was also the winner of the Double One (XX1) trophy. Congrats to all!

Julie O’Brien, Legion President and Tournament Organizer welcomed the ladies and introduced Lynn Kenney from Heart & Stroke. Lynn spoke of the importance of fundraisers such as this to their organization and stayed for the afternoon of festivities. Barb Smith, long-time friend of Pat organized the kitchen food, money raised was added into the day’s total!

Pat Vander Eyken was a character! She loved her family, her friends and her darts, probably in that order. She was usually at the centre of giggling, laughing, or carrying on happening in the Legion. To describe her as ‘Life of the Party” would be an understatement. When she passed 5 years ago, many of us felt her loss deeply. We had lost a friend and ‘momma’ to many! So 4 years ago Julie O’Brien and a group of friends decided to host a Memorial Dart Tournament at the Legion…we join together to have fun and remember Pat. We tell silly stories, enjoy silent auctions, tickets are sold for door prizes and LOTS of laughter. A BIG shout out to local businesses and private donors who supplied door prizes!

A highlight for many of us, is having Pat’s daughters and grand-daughters join in with us as we celebrate Pat’s memory. We had so much fun that many teams have already signed up for next year! We knew Pat was watching over us and could hear her comments each time someone did not manage to ‘Turn the Page’ when we shot our darts! UNTIL NEXT YEAR!

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