About 100 people gathered as 30 two-person teams took aim Sunday and raised money for Western Massachusetts Fragile X during the first-ever Hadley Cornhole Championship at Hadley Elementary School.
Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disabilities, behavioral and learning challenges and various physical characteristics.
“Everybody on our street has a cornhole board,” said Tom Waskiewicz, who lives on Sunrise Drive in Hadley and organized the event. “It’s a good family-oriented game.”
The game is played by tossing corn-filled bags 27 feet into a hole cut in a board. Players are awarded three points for each bag that goes through the hole and one point for throws that rest on the board; opponents can negate those points with their own throws. The game continues until one team reaches 21 points or more. The tournament was a double elimination and a cash prize of $150 was awarded to the winner; $75 to the runner-up.
Carl Clapp, of Leeds, was on the Cookout Kings team with Carlos Borges.
“It’s a good time, it’s a good cause. We finished sixth,” Clapp said. We play at home in the driveway. We played on Super Bowl Sunday,”
Money was raised through the $20 entry fee, a raffle of donated items, which included a kayak and a recliner, food prepared by the Hadley Mothers’ Club, and donated baked goods. Deejay Matt Peterson, of Northampton, donated his time for the event.
Gerald and Denise Devine brought their son, Patrick, 24, who has Fragile X. Though Patrick is non-verbal, he seemed to enjoy the food and playing catch with his father.
“It’s great living in Hadley. Everyone seems to take every family as their own,” Denise Devine said. They’ll be there to help.”