Battle of the Badges Raises More than $4K

That money was added to earlier T- shirt sales and donations to benefit the Shannon Seaton Memorial Fund, operated through the Legacy Foundation.

"The Battle of the Badges basketball games brought in over $4,500, thanks to the generosity of our community," said Arkansas City Recreation Center director Casey Doty.

"We are happy with the amount of money raised, everyone had a good time and we look forward to hosting an event next year."

Doty, Clifton Lolar and Cindy Waugh, administrative assistant at the Ark City Fire-EMS Department, organized the charity competition after Lolar brought the idea to Doty, his supervisor at the Rec Center, last spring.

"I was surprised at how well it went," Lolar said, "and all the money that was raised. We're looking forward to doing it again next year."

Lolar said he first envisioned something smaller, held inside the Rec Center gym.

But the "battle" wound up taking place at W.S. Scott Auditorium, and featured police and firefighters from Arkansas City, Burden, Udall and Winfield, as well as the county sheriff's office.

The police won the final game, taking home a large trophy donated by Elite Advertising. About 300 adult tickets were sold and attendance was estimated to be 500 to 600 total.

"It was just a super-fun evening of entertainment all around," Waugh said. "Once again, Cowley County showed they care."

The Shannon Seaton Memorial Fund, started in May 2012, provides grants to local families struggling financially because of cancer.

Shannon Seaton died from inflammatory breast cancer in April 2012.

"We are so grateful to everybody who made the Battle of the Badges happen," said David Allen Seaton.

"It was a fun event put together by some amazing people. Shannon would be so proud of the community coming together for such a great cause in her name."