MT. ZION, Ill. (WAND) - Weekends at home are for chores, projects and to cater to everything needed to keep moving forward.
For Ethan Parker, his home is a plate rather than a house. Wiffle ball has become Parker's past time. Over the last decade, he's been called "the wiffle ball guy" and "Mr. Ball" thanks to his creation of the 217 ALZ Backyard Wiffle ball Classic.
"The only way you can play baseball around here, around your house is with a plastic bat and ball," Parker said. "It was literally just a dream and it might have been my dream to start off, but it was the community that really took it way farther than the fences of this yard."
Ten years ago, he was just a 12-year-old kid who wanted a wiffle ball tournament in his backyard. His mom and uncle supported the idea on the condition it be put toward a bigger cause.
Ethan's great grandma, Betty, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and his mother was on the Alzheimer's committee. "I remember seeing her when I was able to see her when I was really young and it was probably the first time I realized she had Alzheimer's," Ethan says. "She didn't remember who I was... she would reach out and touch your hand... it's just such a terrible disease... Her fight ignited all of this."
It didn't take long for the decision to be settled.
With the tournament's purpose teed up, it was only a matter of time before Ethan realized the hit he had on his hands. In the inaugural event, inside a rather bare-bones backyard compared today's setup, the event generated $1,200 for Alzheimer's research.
Every year since, the Wiffle Ball Classic grew alongside the donations. It has endured rainstorms, summer heat and even the COVID-19 pandemic — none of which were enough to slow the dream down.
"Now we are to the point where we are at or crossing $1-million for research for Alzheimer's. It's mind blowing," Ethan said. "The fact we have raised that much money in only 10 years, that's just a testament to this community. This community is family to me and I'm very blessed to have them."
Grandma Betty lost her battle with Alzheimer's in 2018 — two years after the tournament started. Her name is now at home among dozens of others who have fought or are currently fighting the disease. Their names are on display plates covering a net overlooking E.P. Field. Each one of them stands tall above the field every day of the six-day event.
"Everyone here has a story and sometimes you need to share those stories," Ethan said. ""We're not the only ones. There's so many people out there going through the same thing we had to go through."
One of those people is Justin Thomas. For his first three years of participating in the event, wiffle ball was just another way to enjoy the dog days of summer.
"It's something about that place and it's something about the people," Justin said. "It just feels like home."
Justin typically plays pitcher and says he likes to keep his opponents guessing. "If you don't figure them out early, they're going to hit them onto the street all night," he said.
Last year, Justin walked onto the field with a new name on his jersey and for the same reason so many donors have deep ties to the tournament. Justin's mom, Sue, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has her name on the wall with Betty. Her fight is still ongoing and his uniform name now reads "For Mom".
"In the beginning, we as a family kind of kept it close to our vest," Justin said. "We didn't tell very many people about it... The lows are the lowest, but I'm just still thankful that she has her smile and that she's still happy."
When he walked into the yard for the first time since the diagnosis last summer, Justin says he felt like he was in his own little world. As a kid, everyone he grew up with played wiffle ball. Inside the backyard, all the pressures and worries about his mother vanished.
"It took a lot of weight off of my shoulder whenever I got to do that," Justin said. "It was almost like a movie for me... such a fulfilling moment. It was very calming in a way."
Through participating in the Classic, competitors from opposing teams become allies. Each player offers support and understanding that many taking part in the fun are impacted by their own family's battle with Alzheimer's.
"They're going to be there," Justin said. "They're going to help you. They know what you're going through."
Ethan added, "I'm glad we're able to affect other families who might not have had a safe haven before this."
Even as he grows older, Ethan takes the field every summer taking pride in the tournament and fundraiser he's created. He competes with his friends, taking his spot on the field. He may have a scoreboard in the yard which doubles as a field, but the lone number he cares about is the amount of dollars in donations.
"I never thought eight teams in a backyard would turn into a million dollars someday," Ethan said fighting back tears. "But that's, like, our community, man."
From neighbors, to people in the surrounding Macon County area, to celebrities like country artist Bailey Zimmerman, and players from across state borders, the community has returned every year to keep giving back.
The message stands the same for those battling Alzheimer's and to Ethan as he orchestrates an incredible tournament: keep going.
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