A number of notable former athletes and celebrities are coming to Abbotsford on June 6 and 7 for a charity softball tournament designed to raise awareness for mental health and trauma recovery.
The second annual Devin McGuire Memorial Tournament takes over Abbotsford’s Exhibition Park starting at 10:30 a.m. each day with dozens of teams competing in three divisions.
The event features the seven men and three women format, includes a home run derby with celebrities, beer gardens, music and an auction with unique sports merchandise.
Attendees can look forward to appearances by:
• Chris Higgins – Vancouver Canucks alumni
• Khris Davis – Former Oakland Athletics great and 2018 Major League Baseball home run king
• Paris Jackson – Two-time Grey Cup champion and BC Lions star
• Jason Day – Former UFC fighter and actor
Autographs will occur at 2 p.m. on both days and the celebrities will participate in the home run derby as well as coach select teams on the weekend.
McGuire, who died in May 2024, was a recovery advocate who dedicated his life to helping others overcome mental health and addiction challenges.
Organizers said he also found joy and healing through sports like softball and soccer, often using team sports to build confidence and community for those struggling. The upcoming tournament serves as a tribute to Devin’s passion for giving back and his belief in the power of sports to uplift and heal.
Event organizer Andy Bhatti stated that this event is about healing.
“As a person in long-term recovery and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and trauma, I have dedicated my life to helping others heal,” he said. “As a drug and alcohol interventionist, I work closely with some of the best mental health, trauma, and addiction treatment programs in the world. This event is about giving hope and access to treatment for people who otherwise could never afford it.”
The Sunshine Coast Health Centre is donating a six-week scholarship bed valued at approximately $54,000, while The Warmth Rehab Thailand Recovery Centre is donating three separate six-week scholarship beds over a five-month period. The Healing Institute on Gabriola Island is also donating a six-week scholarship bed.
“The Devin McGuire Memorial Tournament is more than a softball tournament; it’s a chance to come together, celebrate life, and make a difference,” Bhatti told The News before last year’s inaugural event. “The response from the community has been overwhelming. By coming together through events like this, the community can help break the stigma, increase support and create meaningful change.”
Bhatti previously hosted similar tournaments in Abbotsford that featured baseball legend Jose Canseco and WWE hall of famer Jimmy Hart.