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This Saturday, Nov. 23, 4Ever5 Sports is hosting a benefit softball tournament in Troy for Pike Liberal Arts student Charli Barron.

Barron is a Pike Lib seventh grader that has battled kidney disease for much of her life and has been placed on the kidney transplant list. Barron is a longtime member of the 4Ever5 Sports travel ball program, as well.

Ro Harris and Shelby Spaziani, who run 4Ever5 Sports, decided they wanted to do a benefit softball tournament in support of Barrron.

“She’s one of our kids,” Harris emphasized. “She’s been with us for awhile and she told her teachers that we help inspire her and are great role models for her. We just wanted to do this tournament to help her and her family out with travel and everything going back and forth to Birmingham.”

Despite her medical issues, Harris said that Barron was one of the toughest players he’s ever been around.

“Charli still plays, even with all the issues she’s had, as much as she can without over doing it,” he said. “She is one of the toughest kids I’ve ever known. She is tough as nails. She gets out there and hits the ball and everything like there’s nothing wrong. We’re really proud of her.”

The Barron Benefit Tournament will feature 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U softball teams from all over the state, and Florida, competing in a tournament. The money raised at the tournament will be in benefit of Barron and her family. The tournament will take place on Nov. 23 at the Troy SportsPlex, beginning at 8 a.m.