Hospice Brazos Valley is back for the eighth annual Hog Splash Mudd Volleyball Tournament. Businesses, organizations, and families have participated in the Hog Splash event year after year to help raise money for HBV patients while sloshing around and playing volleyball in huge mud pits. Hog Splash is on Aug. 25 at Slovacek’s Sausage in Snook. This community-based event brings people from all over the Brazos Valley together to support HBV patients.
HBV is the only nonprofit, community-based-and-supported organization of its kind dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of Central Texas residents who have a terminal or chronic illness. Since 1989 Hospice Brazos Valley has been providing end-of-life care for residents of Central Texas encompassing 17 counties, according to their website.
The Hog Splash volleyball tournament was originally started to bring awareness to HBV. They wanted to help spread the word about what HBV does and the services they offer. Whenever there is a shortfall or insurance doesn’t cover the entire cost of care for a patient, HBV fundraisers help raise money to pay for the remaining cost of care. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit patients and families HBV serves, according to Nichole Overman, fund development supervisor at HBV. “These funds go into all 17 counties; it’s not just for Brazos Valley,” says Overman. Hog Splash is HBV’s second largest event, according to Overman.
“We get a lot of spectators and we’re always looking for volunteers,” says Overman. “We have a really good volunteer base. We have banks who send a lot of their employees. Our own staff comes to volunteer as well, so our nurses, our chaplains, our social workers. Everyone really comes out for this one, so it’s supported wonderfully by our community.”
The Hog Splash Mudd Volleyball Tournament usually has around 50 to 75 volunteers and about 45 to 50 teams. Overman says HBV is hoping to have 50 teams this year. One of the biggest challenges is finding more teams each year. However, there are many teams, mainly businesses, who come back year after year, according to Overman.
“Sometimes we have family members who team up, but a lot of our players are businesses that use it as a team building experience,” says Overman. “We have a lot of other organizations that come out and form a team.”
The volleyball tournament lasts about six hours, from 9am to 3pm. Teams are usually anywhere from eight to 10 people and at least one player from each team must be female. The tournament is a round-robin format and follows the same rules as a regular volleyball game, except it is played in mud. Playing in mud levels the playing field so anyone, no matter their skill, can play and have fun. Players must be 16 and older to participate in the event, but anyone is welcome to watch the tournament for free. “We just want you to come out and enjoy and have a good time,” says Overman.
There is a giant trophy given to the first-place team and that trophy gets to travel with the winning team until the next year’s Hog Splash, according to Overman.
“This event shows that we’re not just doom and gloom,” says Overman. “It shows that we are happy, we do have fun, and we’re all embracing life.”
Registration is open for interested teams. For volunteer information or to register a team for Hog Splash, visit www.hospicebrazosvalley.org or call (979) 821-2266.
