Wednesday night in the Comox Valley, as women’s slo-pitch teams took to the field, players stopped for a moment of silence.
On Thursday night, as the men’s teams took the field, they did the same.
“Everyone has really come together,” said Adrienne Elliott, president of the Comox Valley Slo-Pitch League.
On Aug. 19, during an annual tournament at Lewis Park, 32-year-old husband, father and slo-pitch player Chris Godfrey was critically injured by a throw from infield to first base.
Godfrey was rushed to St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Comox, and then airlifted to hospital in Victoria.
“It’s one in a billion thing. Nobody has ever seen anything like that happen before and for the rest of my life I’ll probably never see anything like that happen again. It’s tragic,” said Scott Parsons, coach of the Ballbusters, the host team for the tournament.
Elliott noted as a result of the tragic event at the tournament, the league implemented mandatory helmets.
Wednesday night was the first time teams took to the field with the helmets, and Elliott said the additional protection went “really good. It was not a big deal.”
As a result of the incident, other leagues across the Island are considering - or will be - implementing mandatory helmets.
In an update posted to the family’s Go Fund Me page, organizer Nicole Lebrun explained that Godfrey remains on life support at Victoria General Hospital.
“All we can do is ask for everyone to keep Chris in your prayers.”
She noted he is in a private room with a window.
“Amanda (Chris’s wife) remains at his side where she plays videos to him so he can hear all of the love and support that has been flowing his way,” she wrote.
Lebrun added the family of Godfrey would like to thank Jeneece Place for bending the rules and welcoming his family into the home away from home and allowing the family a comfortable place to rest.
Jeneece Place is a temporary home in Victoria where families can stay while their children are receiving medical care.
In addition to the page, which has raised more than $31,000, Elliott explained there are other ways in which the community is stepping up to help the Godfrey family.
The league donated $5,000 to an account set up at Coastal Community Credit Union for Godfrey (account number 786933), and she added a variety of other teams and groups are donating funds or fundraising as well.
“It’s really amazing just how many people have stepped help.”
On Wednesday, Fluid Bar & Grill will be hosting a burger and beer night for $15, with $10 from each purchase will go directly to helping the Godfrey family.
