Waterloo basketball tournament to raise awareness for mental health

A former high school and university basketball player from Waterloo will be remembered at tournament being held in his honour this weekend.

The third annual Jacob Ranton Memorial Basketball Tournament goes Friday and Saturday at Waterloo Collegiate Institute and Bluevale.

Ranton, who attended WCI and then Memorial University in Newfoundland, took his own life, just days before Christmas in 2014.

His father Doug tells 570’s Mike Farwell Show, the tournament means his family can continue to give Jacob a voice.

“Hopefully by us dialoging, talking about mental health, suicide prevention and raising funds for suicide prevention, we can help him allow other kids not to feel the pain he did and ask for help when needed.”

Funds raised go to support the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council. The 2017 goal is to raise $15,000. As of Friday morning, over $14,000 had been collected.

“Jacob loved to help others…We feel this is our way of helping continue to do that and it helps us get through December, we have a focus, we have something we’re working on.” added Ranton.

Silent auction items this year include Rangers, Leafs and Blue Jays tickets. You can find more info. about the tournament here.

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If you need immediate help, the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council has posted the following number on its website:

Call anytime to access Addictions, Mental Health, and Crisis Services

Let’s Talk 24/7 – (844) 437-3247

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