The fifth annual Students for Alzheimer’s Awareness tournament took place on July 30th at the Ole Miss Indoor Tennis Facility on the University of Mississippi campus.

The Students for Alzheimer’s club raised thousands of dollars.

The tournament’s success was largely due to the large community showout in support of Memory Makers, an organization helping patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

“The tennis tournament raised around $20,000 this year,” junior club member Charlie Fruge said. “In the past six years, the tournaments have raised close to $100,000 combined.”

The Students for Alzheimer’s Awareness Club was found- ed six years ago by former Ox- ford High School student Jack Ligon. He created the tournament four years ago as a way to help his grandfather who has Alzheimer’s.

Ligon also started volunteering at the Magnolia, formerly known as the Blake, a local retirement community.

“My brother fell in love with the residents,” senior club president Charlie Ligon. “That inspired him to start the club and the tournament.”

The Memory Makers, a local Alzheimer’s organization, lost their grant and were looking for donations from the community.

Jack Ligon decided to start the tournament to benefit them. Since then, it has grown tremendously.

Donations from the community are given to help put on the tournament.

“We had fifty people participate in the tournament this year. We charge twenty-dollars per entry, and it is a mixed doubles tournament. We also have a raffle on the day of the tournament,” Ligon said.

Outside of the tournament, the club visits the Alzheimer’s patients in the Memory Care ward at the Magnolia.

“On Saturdays we will go visit some of the patients there,” Ligon said. “We try to help out as much as possible.”

The Students for Alzheimer’s Awareness Club fundraiser is a great way to be involved for a good reason.

The club has continued to be an important part of the Oxford community since its creation.

“We’re just out here hitting balls for a cause,” Fruge said. “It’s a fun way to raise money and get some exercise.”