Socially Savvy: (Ping!) Pong for a purpose at this event next weekend

Tap… Tap… Smack…Tap… Tap… Smack…Tap…Tap… SHUT UP I HATE YOU! YOU CHEATED! THAT DID NOT TOUCH THE SIDE!

These are a few phrases you may or may not have heard while amid a furious fight that took place on a battlefield 274cm by 152.5cm. The weapon of choice, a sphere whose mass is 2.7 grams and a diameter of 40mm. The perfect weight and shape to smash ones hopes and dreams with a single blow. Your shield, a wooden mallet that has been flattened to 15cm wide and 17cm long, perfect for blocking any tactical maneuver and smashing your way into a flawless victory.

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If you have not guessed already, I am speaking of the 158-year-old game of table tennis, or to all basement, game-room-loving, die hards … Ping Pong.

Ping Pong is a game in which friendships begin and end. Odds are, in your life you have been able to experience the heartache and heartburn of winning and losing at Ping Pong. When all is said and done, Ping Pong is a sport that anyone can pick up and only a few can master. So what better way to get bring folks together for a great cause than a Ping Pong tournament?!

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The Leadership Dayton Class of 2018 is hosting a Ping Pong Tournament to benefit RAMCO (Recovery Alliance of Montgomery County) on Saturday May 12th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

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RAMCO is an alliance of recovery organizations created to share resources to positively impact citizens and communities. Their vision is to provide supportive services for the many roads of recovery. RAMCO consists of: Alco Aides, Families of Addicts, West Side Club, Inc., Dayton Fellowship Club, Recovery Cafe Dayton and is supported by Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services.

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When asked, "Why RACMO?" Michael Allen, one of the many project leads on Pong For a Purpose said, “We knew we wanted to help bring more awareness to the opioid epidemic that was happening in Greater Dayton area”. The original fundraising goal for the event of $10,000 has already been SMASHED through with the new running total being just north of $20,000.

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So how can you play? Simple. Click the link HERE and follow the instructions on how to get registered. There have been over 100 registrations with more coming in. Also if you do not want to play, but instead cheer on your favorite player, all are encouraged to stop by and check out the event.

Whether you have a competitive side or a non-competitive side, there will be two separate tournaments to suit your ping pong needs. A $10 registration fee for the non-competitive tournament and $20 for the competitive. As an added bonus, there will be cash prizes awarded for 1st ($500), 2nd ($350), and 3rd ($250) place finishers.

IMPORTANT TIP: The competitive tournament will begin at 10 a.m. with arrival time starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 1:30 p.m. The Non-competitive tournament will start around 2:00pm and last until roughly 4:00pm