Moody Park in Fairview Height will be the scene Saturday for live music, a WIFFLE ball tournament, bounce houses, games and a car and motorcycle show.
The event is organized by Hero Inside, a non-profit focused on raising awareness against heroin, raising money for rehabilitation and detox and a support outlet for addicts and their families. Proceeds will benefit the Brandon Duren Foundation, which focuses on sending addicts to rehabilitation and detox.
In addition to music, fun and games, there will be several guest speakers, highlighted by Chad Sabora, a former Cook County prosecutor and recovering addict. Sabora,will be featured on the NBC Nightly News Wednesday. He is the Vice President of Operations at the Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Recovery.
Sabora will speak at 2 p.m. and St. Clair County Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn will speak at 4 p.m. McGlynn is one of the event’s sponsors and is a proponent of drug testing for judges. He replaced Michael Cook as a circuit judge following Cook’s arrest on heroin and gun charges.
A WIFFLE ball tournament will kick off the Hero Inside event at noon. Eight teams will compete in a double elimination tournament. Single and team spots are still available for the tournament. There is no restriction on the number of players on a team, but no more than five players can be on the field at any one time, event spokesman Glenn Cole said.
The tournament will be the first ever event on The Miracle League Field at Moody Park. The Miracle League of Fairview Heights teamed with St. Louis Cardinals Manager Mike Matheney’s Catch 22 foundation to bring the special needs field to the park.
A car and motorcycle show will begin at 12:30 p.m. There are numerous entrants, but 75-80 spots are still available, Cole said. Car awards will be presented in the categories of hot rod, muscle, under construction, pure stock, import, domestic, best in show and a hero inside pick. Motorcycle awards will be presented for sport bike and custom chopper/cruiser.
Musical highlights include Nick Menn and his group Doorway. Doorway was named the best St. Louis hip-hop artists in 2013 by the Riverfront Times.
Menn wrote the song “Hero Inside,” and co-founded the group of the same name, after three of his friends died heroin related deaths.
Other artists include Never Too Late, Universal Records hip-hop artist Tess Poe, blues artist Monkh and other artists from many music genres.
Multiple, large bounce houses will be set up for the kids and the St. Louis Rams’ cheerleaders will be signing free autographs, beginning at 2 p.m., Cole said.
Big Mama’s Barbeque donated food for the event.
Vendors and other resources will be available throughout the day. The event runs from 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Moody Park, 525 S Ruby Lane in Fairview Heights.
