5 Things to Know about the KMA Foundation Kickball Tournament

1) The name stands for two things, Keeping Memories Alive and Kaela Marie Archambault, a 20-year-old Eureka resident who died in a car accident on Route FF in 2010. Proceeds from the tournament go to the foundation along with One Curve At a Time, a non-profit organization started by Kaela’s father, Shawn Archambault.

2) Shawn Archambault started One Curve at a Time to help raise awareness about the dangers of the curvy Route FF, which MoDOT has said 25 percent more crashes than the average two-lane road, and advocate for changes to the road to make it safer.

The KMA Foundation is dedicated to promoting the empowerment of children’s future and honoring lost loved ones through a memorial scholarship fund.  

3) The event is designed for families with teams open to ages 5 and up. The deadline to register (via the web) is Aug. 16 and the tournament itself will take place from Aug. 24-25 at Lions Park in Eureka. The cost of registration is $135 per team with up to 10 defensive players allowed on the field per team.

4) After years of agitating for change, Shawn Archambault, One Curve at a Time and other local activists were rewarded last summer when MoDOT said it would take steps to address the dangers of Route FF. MoDOT is currently planning to start construction on curve improvements and the addition of shoulders in Spring 2014.

5) The contest is a popular event, with last year’s competition attracting 22 teams. If you have questions about the tournament, contact Meagahn or Shawn at kickball@kmafoundation.org or visit the organization’s website.