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By JOYANNA LOVE / Senior Staff Writer

A group of caring community members rallied for the Price family by holding an event to raise funds for medical expenses and other needs on July 27.

The event featured a World Sports League slow pitch softball men’s tournament at Clanton City Park collecting donations, and JAC’s Party Rental raising funds $5 at a time with their inflatables.

The activities raised at least $1,500 for the family.

Christy Price said both of her sons have ongoing medical issues.

“My son Davis Price was diagnosed with Gardner Syndrome when he was 2 years old, and (it) has caused head and neck tumors,” Christy Price said. “He has been receiving chemo treatments since he was 2, and he is almost 9.”

He has also undergone radiation and other treatments.

“Back in the middle of May, … my other son Colton was diagnosed with kidney failure,” Price said. “He got started on dialysis, and we have been doing that since about June.”

Doctors have done tests and think he may have Senior-Løken syndrome, which is a rare disorder that negatively impacts the kidney and the eyes.

“He cannot see in the dark,” Christy Price said. “His depth perception is off. His vision is changing pretty rapidly.”

Colton will start the process to get on the transplant list with Children’s of Alabama in August.

Each son goes to treatment at least once a week.

The fundraiser was organized by Southeast regional director Stephen Smitherman, who is also Christy Price’s cousin. He said he had wanted to do something for the family for a year, and the cancelation of another tournament allowed him to do it on July 27.

“I just wanted to raise as much money as I can for them,” Smitherman said. “I think we had a pretty good turnout.”

Ten teams played in the tournament.

JAC’s Party Rental donated use of the inflatables. For a $5 donation to the Price family, children could play on the equipment as long as they wanted.

During the fundraising tournament, the boys threw the first pitches.

Donations to the family can be made at gofundme.com/DavisColton.

Stephen Smitherman has supported the community with some of his tournaments in the past, especially around Christmas, Rochelle Smitherman said. She commented that he also allows New Hope Assembly to run the concession stand at the tournaments as a way to raise money for the church building fund for a Life Center.