By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
A glow-in-the-dark dodgeball tournament will bring together law enforcement, local families and Special Olympics athletes at the Hockomock Area YMCA.
In coordination with the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Wrentham Police Association, the April 11 LETR Glow Dodgeball Tournament continues a fundraiser that began more than a decade ago as a memorial 5K, evolving into an inclusive dodgeball tournament with a deeply personal mission.
For organizer Kristine Crosman, a Wrentham police officer with more than 23 years of service, that mission has remained constant.
“I started this back in 2015 as a glow-in-the-park 5K in honor of my daughter,” Crosman said. “She was a Special Olympics athlete, and everything we did was to support that community.”
After the COVID pandemic made it difficult to continue the road race, Crosman said the 5K shifted into a dodgeball game in 2021, making the fundraiser more accessible while maintaining its impact.
“To get a 5K up and running is a lot of work and money,” she said. “This is faster, it’s easier to organize, and honestly, it’s just fun.”
A different kind of tournament
The LETR Glow tournament features a double-elimination, “March Madness”-style bracket, with teams divided into four categories: First Responders, Schools, Unified Teams and an open division. Games are played under black lights, with glowing equipment and attire adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement.
“The black light makes it so much fun,” Crosman said. “You can still see everyone, but it changes the game just enough to make it more exciting.”
For Crosman and her family, the glow element comes with a deeper meaning.
“My daughter was legally blind, and the things that caught her attention most were glow toys,” she said. “That’s where the idea came from. We always said ‘Kailyn glows.’”
Teams of five players — with up to two alternates — will compete for trophies, including a “Top Dog” championship title. Additional awards will recognize top fundraisers, the most spirited team and the “Hummingbird Award,” given to the participant who best represents the event’s unified spirit.
A defining feature of the tournament is its emphasis on unified play, where Special Olympics athletes compete alongside police officers, students and other community members.
One moment from last year’s tournament continues to stand out for Crosman.
In the final game, she said, a Special Olympics athlete was the last player remaining on one team. Players on the opposing side — a police team — slowed the pace of the game, allowing him to stay involved and knock out a few opponents.
“Everyone just stopped and let him have that moment,” she said. “His mom was so thankful, and he was smiling ear-to-ear. That’s what this is all about.”
Proceeds from the tournament benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts through the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), a global fundraising initiative led by police agencies. The LETR campaign, which began in 1981, has raised more than $1 billion worldwide.
In Massachusetts, Crosman said fundraising efforts recently surpassed $1 million for the year to support athlete participation, including equipment, transportation, facility rentals and, in some cases, medical needs.
“It goes directly to the athletes,” she said. “And for us in law enforcement, this is the best part of the job.
“All the tough things we see on the street — this is the good,” Crosman added. “You get hugs, you see the smiles. We do so much for them, but they give just as much back.”
Growing a community event
The tournament has rotated through several communities in recent years — including Mansfield and Foxboro — but is now returning to North Attleborough, where Crosman spent 20 years as a police officer and first launched the event.
Crosman hopes a new partnership with the Hockomock Area YMCA will help rebuild local momentum and expand participation.
“We’ve had it at different places over the years, so people are still catching on that it’s back here,” she said. “But the goal is to build it bigger every year.”
Crosman said the event typically raises between $10,000 and $15,000, with additional donations often coming in the day of the tournament. While several teams have already registered, many sign up on the day of.
Returning participants include teams from North Attleborough, Attleboro, Norwood and Norfolk County law enforcement agencies, along with Unified teams and students. A team from Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is also expected to participate.
Spectators are encouraged to attend, with music, face painting and a lively atmosphere planned inside the gym. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with games starting at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $40 per adult player and $25 for students. Players must be 13 or older.
“It’s hard to describe,” Crosman said. “But once you’re there, it’s just incredible.”