Second annual RTB tournament to be held at Wilson middle and high schools

The second annual RTB basketball tournament will be held at the Wilson School Gymnasium on Sunday, Oct. 27, beginning at 1 p.m. RTB stands for "Reason to Believe ... in each other." Two Episcopal churches, St. John's in Wilson and St. Andrew's in Burt, are co-sponsoring this event to benefit Niagara Hospice programs for children and youth.

St. Andrew's and St. John's have collaborated on ministries since 2007. Although each church is committed to different community projects in Newfane and Wilson, both share a commitment to build a spirit of community and friendship among youth. Teams may be formed of 5-10 players, but boys and girls in grades 3-12 may sign up to be placed on either a competitive or a non-competitive team.

"We want young people from different schools and different towns throughout Niagara County to come together, play hard, and have some fun," said Natalie Beilein, who with her husband, Bill Beilein, and John Carney, is organizing the event.

The proceeds from the event will benefit the bereavement programs provided by Niagara Hospice, including Camp Hope. Camp Hope is a free, annual bereavement camp for children ages 7-13 that addresses the specific needs of grieving children. Established in 2001, it is the first hospice bereavement camp for children in Western New York and has served more than 350 children to date.

More information about the event can be found at www.standrewsburt.com and at www.niagarahospice.com.