MILLS, Wyo. — Dozens of dart players and other community members filled Diesels Bar and Grill on Saturday for a fundraiser benefiting the Maher family, following the recent passing of Casper teen Bobby Maher.
“Bobby and my son were best friends,” event organizer Amber Vandom previously told Oil City News. “He was such a fun, loving kid. They were always riding bikes together, hanging out and just getting into trouble together the way all young kids do.”
Vandom said the idea to help her friends with a fundraiser was a no-brainer, and the idea to specifically host a darts competition to raise the money comes from Diesels already hosting regular darts tourneys.
Saturday ultimately saw 46 teams enter the tournament, which volunteer Sara Becker said is a notable jump in attendance from the weekly events.
“The turnout today is probably about double what the normal tournaments get,” Becker said. “It’s been really heartwarming to see everyone come together for a good cause like this.”
The fundraiser kicked off with a doubles teams tournament, which was followed by a blind draw that saw competitors randomly paired up. The day also included a silent auction, which featured items like an outdoor heater, personal care items, home appliances, fishing gear, darts equipment and several packages from local businesses.
Becker said the amount raised won’t be known until everything is calculated, though she said it could exceed expectations.
“A lot of the competitors have told us that they’ll donate their winnings from the tournament back into the fundraiser,” Becker said. “We love to see such a strong turnout, and we really appreciate this type of community support.”
