Family and friends of Bryce Buchholz, the Elma teenager killed by a drunken driver May 3 as he rode his bike in Lancaster, are holding a memorial and fundraising event tonight and Saturday on the ballfields of the former St. Barnabas Church, 2049 George Urban Blvd., Depew.
Proceeds raised through the sale of T-shirts, wristbands and stickers with pro-Bryce messages, and through a raffle and ticket auction, will go toward efforts to build a skate and bike park in the Village of Lancaster, organizers said.
The event begins at 6:15 p.m. with opening remarks by John Buchholz, Bryce’s uncle. Later, friends and family will gather in a memorial circle, followed by a brief prayer service and the release of 14 balloons – a number selected because it was Bryce’s age.
Benny Kirkland, who returned the alleged hit-and-run driver to the accident scene, will throw out the first pitch before the four softball games.
Participants are coed youth teams from the Barnabas Athletic Association. Four of the teams playing tonight will wear uniforms of either white or orange, Bryce’s favorite color. T-shirts, wristbands and stickers will be sold. The raffle and basket auction and sale of Bryce-themed items will continue through Saturday morning’s games, said John Buchholz, league coach.
Tonight’s event will conclude with a moment of silence at 8:37, the time when Bryce died.
