Stratford Minor Girls Softball Association holds Tiffanie Parkins Memorial Tournament

Murray Parkins, Karen McNeill, Kathy Parkins, Wendy Brickman and Barb Lennon at the Tiffanie Parkins Memorial Softball Tournament on July 4. Proceeds from sales like raffle tickets, silent auction bids and snacks went towards Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario in honour of Murray and Kathy’s daughter Tiffanie, a former Stratford Flames player who passed away from epilepsy.

By: Emily Stewart

The Stratford Minor Girls Softball Association honoured a former player and the past president’s daughter.

The Stratford Minor Girls Softball Association held the annual Tiffanie Parkins Memorial Softball Tournament at Anne Hathaway Park between July 3 and 5. Throughout the weekend, girls softball teams part of the Huron Perth league in various age groups participated. The U11, U13 and U15 leagues had eight teams each.

The tournament honours the memory of Tiffanie who played with the Stratford Flames softball team up until her passing at 17-years-old in 2004 due to epilepsy.

As it has been 22 years since her passing, the minor girls softball association held a silent auction. Proceeds from sales of snacks, silent auction bids and raffle tickets on July 4, the day of the interview with the Stratford Times, went towards Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario.

"It's to bring awareness to other people so the funds, we can help people who are dealing with it and research,” said Kathy Parkins, past president of Stratford Minor Girls Softball Association and Tiffanie’s mother.

Stratford Flames players and alumni remember Tiffanie and her enthusiasm for the game.

"A lot of them remember Tiffanie. Well, a lot of them are older now but yeah they remember her because she was the one that was on the bench cheering. She had all this team spirit,” Kathy said.

In a follow-up with the Times, Kathy said that $4,299.80 for Southwestern Ontario Epilepsy.