05/09/2026
Wow — what a success the 5th Annual Robert Freeland Memorial Tournament was!
Five years ago, this started as something very simple — a way to bring people together for someone who meant everything to us.
Our dad, Robert Freeland, was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma in 2021. If you knew him, you knew how much he loved sports, community, and bringing people together. During the final stages of his life, we wanted to give him moments of joy and something to look forward to, so we organized a few soccer games.
That was it.
Six teams.
One division.
A few weeks of planning.
Now look at what this community has built together.
This year we had 16 soccer teams across 3 divisions — including our first-ever women’s division — along with pickleball, spikeball, a touch-a-truck event, kids activities, food, music, and so many incredible people coming together for something bigger than themselves.
But what means the most to us isn’t the numbers.
It’s the feeling.
It’s seeing complete strangers support one another.
It’s watching kids run around laughing.
It’s teammates becoming lifelong friends.
It’s families coming together during difficult times and realizing they are not alone.
What started as a tournament has become a community.
This event would not have been possible without the incredible support from our volunteers, local businesses that donated prizes and financially helped cover field rental costs, spectators, athletes, and every single person who showed up this weekend.
As a community, we have grown this event enough that this year we were able to support not one, but two individuals and their families.
Recipient 1: Waylon
Waylon is an 8-year-old boy from Peterborough who was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January 2025. He’s the kind of kid who always has a smile on his face and loves hockey, baseball, golf, and being outdoors.
Since his diagnosis, he has faced more challenges than most adults could ever imagine — chemotherapy, blood transfusions, countless procedures, long hospital stays, time away from home, missing school, friends, and the sports he loves.
And through all of it, he continues to show up with strength, courage, and positivity.
That’s what a fighter looks like.
Recipient 2:
Our second recipient has chosen to remain anonymous but shared part of his journey with Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC), a rare genetic condition that can increase the risk of aggressive kidney cancer.
He is currently battling Stage 4 cancer and has gone through multiple treatment methods due to treatment resistance and severe side effects from previous attempts. He is currently finding success through targeted therapy and shared that this support has brought both emotion and relief to his little family.
Cancer impacts more people than we realize.
Almost every person reading this knows someone who has fought this battle.
And that’s why this tournament matters.
Because no family should ever feel alone during the hardest moments of their lives.
This year, together, we raised an incredible $8,500.
Be proud of yourselves.
Every raffle ticket purchased.
Every donation made.
Every volunteer hour.
Every game played.
Every share on social media.
It all made a difference.
To our sponsors, donors, volunteers, athletes, and everyone who came out this weekend — thank you.
You are the reason this continues to grow.
You are the reason families feel supported.
And you are the reason Robert’s legacy continues to live on.
