Caleb's Pitch, a local non-profit organization intended to create memories for children with life-threatening medical conditions, will host a poker tournament at Ocala Poker and Jai-Alai on Friday.
The tournament will raise funds for the organization, which focuses on re-creating for ailing children some of the experiences of Caleb Jacobbe, a sports-loving 7-year-old boy who died from a rare type of kidney disease called Wilms' tumor.
Mathematics education professor and Jacobbe's uncle, Tim Jacobbe, founded Caleb's Pitch about a year ago to "help create positive memories for families" who have children suffering from severe medical conditions. According to Jacobbe, the organization provides an "athletic experience" by having children meet with UF football and basketball players. These experiences are created in remembrance of Caleb, who played several sports and attended a Boston Red Sox spring training session where he made a pitch.
Jacobbe is always seeking volunteers, who can sign up at www.calebspitch.org/volunteer.
While there is no need for volunteers in the upcoming poker tournament, Jacobbe encourages students, faculty and organizations to participate.
Caleb was remembered for being skilled at poker. Jacobbe said he remembers his nephew beating anyone, young or old, who challenged him. "He definitely knew how to bluff," Jacobbe said. "You couldn't read him at all."
The tournament will have a $40 entry fee. The winners' pool will be 50 percent of the proceeds, while 25 percent of the proceeds will go to Caleb's Pitch. Ocala Poker and Jai-Alai is at 4601 NW CR 318 in Reddick, Fla.
