Patriots’ Stevan Ridley Joins Local Dodgeball Tourney to Raise Money for Marathon Victims

If New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley can dodge NFL defenders than he should be able to dodge a dodgeball, right?

We’ll find out this weekend.

Ridley has teamed up with local organization, Dodgeballin’ For Kids to present New England’s largest charity dodgeball event to raise funds for several local non-profits, including The Children of the Boston Marathon Tragedy fund.

“Joined forces with Dodgeballin’ For Kids to help raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy,” Ridley said via his Facebook page. “So get your teams ready because it's about to go down!! #BostonStrong.”

Ridley also took to Twitter to begin recruiting his five-man dodgeball team, tweeting, “Let’s make it happen!” with a photo of the event poster.

Ridley’s recruiting efforts appear to have paid off as Patriots’ wide receiver Julian Edelman tweeted the Pats’ running back about the event.

“I’m in,” Edelman said in response to Ridley’s tweet.

Assuming Edelman joins Ridley, the Patriots’ running back still has three spots to fill on his “surprise team.”

Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski tweeted Ridley about the event but provided no hints as to whether he would participate – likely from the sidelines as he recovers from a broken forearm that has required multiple surgeries.

“That's sweet man!! Ahhh!!! Nice work,” Gronkowski tweeted in response to Ridley’s original post.

The event will be held at Durfee High School gymnasium in Fall River on Saturday, April 27. The tournament is expected to begin at noon.

The charity event will include three age divisions:

• Toss (ages 11-13)
• Throw (ages 14-17)
• Launch (18+)

Each team consists of five members and the entrance fee is $25 per team for the Toss and Throw age divisions and $50 per team for the Launch age division.

The registration deadline has been extended to April 25. To register, e-mail dodgeballinforkids@gmail.com or call (508) 672-0033.

There will be prizes for winning teams, including a most creative team jersey prize, which will be judged by the organization’s staff.

Proceeds will benefit Boston Marathon victims and the following non-profits:

• The Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River
• Fall River Public Schools Intramural Middle School Sports Program
• The Boys & Girls Club
• The YMCA

Dodgeballin’ For Kids was founded out of UMass Dartmouth, ironically the same college that the second suspect in the Marathon bombings, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, attended and was reportedly seen on campus after the tragic events of April 15th.

The organization, according to its Facebook page, is dedicated to “making this world a better place, this country a better place, this state a better place, this community a better place.”

“All to give back, support, donate and be apart of this wonderful time where we are bringing people from all generations to one common playing field … dodgeball,” the mission statement reads. “Helping out our children’s based organizations are of the utmost importance to Dodgeballin’ For Kids.”

The Dodgeballin’ For Kids’ management team encourages all to participate in Saturday’s event to help raise money for the victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy.

“Not only is this a great cause but it's such a fun day to be a part of,” the management team said via Facebook. “You will be so happy you did.”

Contact Dodgeballin' For Kids for details.