By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

There’s an opportunity this weekend to help the family of a young girl raise money for a good cause.

A softball tournament is being held at the Lee Sports Complex Sept. 13 beginning at 9 a.m. to raise money for the medical costs of an East Franklin 3-year-old girl, Millie Baker, who was diagnosed with leukemia three weeks ago.

Millie is currently at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis being treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia-type B and her father, Curtis Baker, said they are taking things “one day at a time.”

“The hardest part is the separation,” Baker said.

“We have two other kids and they need us too and it’s hard for them not being able to see their sister every day.”

Baker said he and his family are appreciative of all the prayers and support that they have received from the community so far.

Millie’s uncle, Josh Baker, along with Dale Morris, Brian Scott, and others decided to host a softball tournament this weekend in order to try and raise money for the family.

“I was just lying around trying to think of some way to help them out,” Josh said. “They’re going to have a lot of expenses with this and I wanted to help.”

The cost is $175 per team to register for the tournament and teams can be co-ed. Baker said each team needs 10-12 players.

“We will have the brackets finished by Thursday so people will know when they’re playing,” Baker said.

“Depending on the number of teams, the tournament will be single or double elimination.”

Baker said there are T-shirts for sale and there will be plenty of food and prizes to be raffled off.

“We have T-shirts for $15 or for $20 you can get a t-shirt and either a hamburger or hotdog,” Baker said.

“And we have over $1,500 worth of merchandise that has been donated by 25 sponsors that we will be raffling off. Everything from gift cards to maybe even a television.”

Baker said he hopes to see some of the local law enforcement and fire departments represented on Saturday.

“I reached out and I’ve challenged every police department and every fire department from here to Florence to come out and support us,” Baker said. “This is for a really good cause.”

Curtis Baker said he and his wife, Tiffany, are spending time in the Ronald McDonald housing in Memphis while their daughter is being treated at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for her acute lymphocytic leukemia-type B.