Lewis Park in Courtenay was busy with softball players this weekend as the annual Robbie Thompson Slo-Pitch Tournament took over all three diamonds.

It's been happening for the last 27 years and it all began to help the family of Thompson who needed a heart transplant at 18-months-old.

"...However they didn't do pediatric heart transplants in BC at that time so we had to fly to Toronto to get it done and of course my dad lost his job, my mom had to go on leave from hers and they could have lost their home if the community didn't rally to help us," Thompson told CHEK News Sunday.

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Thompson has battled complications throughout his 27 years and is now remarkably on his third heart.

He's also battled PTLD (Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders), a type of cancer related to transplants.

The ball tournament has helped his family numerous times and has also raised over $100,000 for other Comox Valley causes.

"And that includes bursaries and things like wheelchair ramps," he said. "This year we're funding Comox Hospital Cancer Care Clinic which is where I got treatment for my cancer last year."

It was all started 27 years ago by a man named Jim Lalic, who with a group of others started the tournament to help a family they didn't even know.

"I think it was just the community. Our ball community is an amazing resource of family, community, camaraderie, teammates and we feel like everybody is a teammate," said tournament organizer Joleen LeChasseur.

But then tragically in 2022 Jim Lalic died of a sudden heart attack.

Now, in a full circle kind of honour, the tournament name has been changed to The Jim Lalic Legacy - Annual Robbie Thompson Slo-Pitch Tournament.

"I personally prefer it to be much more involved with his legacy because this is a huge part of his legacy but also expand it I guess beyond myself," said Thompson.

"It makes it feel very special and from the heart to show that this is something my dad did every year and this is his legacy," said Jim Lalic's son Gregory.

Many people know Robbie and Jim and play in the tournament almost every year.

"Of course I grew up with Robbie Thompson and his story so 100% we wanted to be a part of it," said Sontina Espey.

"Yeah it was really near and dear to Jimmy's heart so we wanted to continue this in his memory," added Samantha Kennedy.

With a raffle and other fundraisers this weekend they hope to raise over $15,000.