What began as a family game of cornhole has grown into a labor of love for the Keith family, one that raises funds for a special camp near and dear to their hearts.

On September 16, they will host the fourth annual Keith Family Cornhole Tournament at White House Heritage High School benefiting Camp Horizon. The unique oncology camp in Kingston Springs, founded by the American Cancer Society in 1983, provides a summer camp experience for children ages 6-17 who are battling cancer.

“Our niece, Mary, was given the opportunity to attend Camp Horizon while she was undergoing treatment for Ewing’s Sarcoma,” says Shelby Keith, one of the organizers of the tournament. “She absolutely loved it. She was able to swim, be out in nature, and meet kids who were going through the same things. It meant the world to her and us.”

Many in White House and neighboring communities remember the courageous battle Mary waged against cancer. Sadly, she passed away in 2017 at just 17 years old. But the memories of this sweet soul live on through the Keith Family Cornhole Tournament.

The tournament got its start after an annual cornhole tournament sponsored by Camp Horizon itself was cancelled during the COVID pandemic. Seeing a need, the Keith family stepped in to assist.

“Camp Horizon had lost the ability to raise funds during Covid,” Shelby explains. “As a family, we love being together and celebrating Mary, so we decided we would do the tournament ourselves. At that point, it was literally just our family, which is large, and a lot of close friends. We raised so much money that first year we thought ‘well, we obviously have to do it again.’”

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Staffed with volunteer nurses and doctors, Camp Horizon is free to attend. However, the cost of supporting each child for a week of camp is $500. The proceeds raised from The Keith Family Cornhole Tournament have made it possible for many children to attend camp who would have otherwise been unable to go.

As word has spread about the tournament, it has expanded, both in the number of two-person teams taking part and the amount of funds raised for Camp Horizon.

“We raised about $7,000 the first year, and last year we raised almost $13,000, with 31 teams participating,” reports Shelby.

The tournament at White House Heritage gets underway at noon. Registration for each two-person team is $100, although anyone is welcome to attend. Additionally, there will be a silent auction with a range of items available, everything from gift baskets, to guitars, to experiences up for bidding. Food trucks will be onsite, and donations are always welcome.

To register for the tournament, you can do so here.

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