By Megan Rodriguez
Mud, fun, and competition will collide with fundraising at the 7th annual Hog Splash Mudd Volleyball Tournament on Oct. 14. The event, sponspored by Hospice Brazos Valley and Slovacek’s Sausages, takes place at Slovacek’s property in Snook, while Texas A&M University’s CARPOOL receives part of the proceeds.
Hospice Brazos Valley is the only nonprofit healthcare provider of its kind in the region, spanning 17 counties. With the rise in the number of patients in recent years, the need for funds is stronger than ever, according to Lizett Hawkins, fund development supervisor for Hospice Brazos Valley.
“That’s why we have these events,” says Hawkins. “There’s always a shortfall because it’s more expensive to keep a patient on service each day than the insurance [or Medicare] will cover. Last year we cared for over 1,000 patients and that’s just our hospice care; we also have a palliative care service. We definitely have seen an increase in the number of patients we are caring for on a daily basis.”
This will be the second year the non-judgmental car ride service, CARPOOL, partne
rs with Hospice Brazos Valley’s annual event. The team has set a goal to earn $40,000 at the tournament through sales on food, beverages, and team registration. Teams of 10 to 12 people can sign up for between $500 and $5,000 until the end of September. Community members are granted free entry to watch the more than 50 teams expected to compete in this year’s tournament.
Volleyball will begin at 9am and typically concludes around 3pm, depending on the number of teams. While the fundraiser is out of the ordinary, Hawkins says it brings people together for a good cause.
“This is a very unique event,” says Hawkins. “I mean a mud volleyball tournament is not for everybody, but the people who come and participate have so much fun and they really get behind it and it gets competitive. It’s just a neat way for people to be able to give back.”
