Sunman Legion’s first PTSD awareness tournament helps fund four future service dogs
Rick and Renee Farr are joined by Carl and Becky Moore, along with Jett (service dog) to receive a $10,000 check from the Sunman American Legion, the proceeds raised from the dart tournament they held on July 27 to raise PTSD awareness.
What started as an idea among a few members of Sunman American Legion Post 337 turned into a community-wide effort that raised $10,000 for the Cody Farr Foundation while bringing greater awareness to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Former Post Commander Leslie Laine said she and several other members began discussing the idea toward the end of April. Laine reached out to Post 337 Sons of the American Legion member and lead darter, Dave Lattire, who then contacted the late Cody Farr’s parents, Rick and Renée Farr, the group received their blessing to move forward with planning the event.
Carl and Renée, members of Rising Sun American Legion Post 59, founded the Cody Farr Foundation in memory of their son, Cody, a U.S. Navy Operations Specialist who died after battling PTSD.
After Cody’s death, the Farr family was determined to “save just one more.” The Cody Farr Foundation was created by combining his passion for helping others with his love of animals. The foundation’s mission is to provide specially trained service dogs at no cost to veterans or first responders living with PTSD. Each dog is trained to meet the recipient’s specific needs with the goal of improving their mental health and overall quality of life. According to codyfarr.org, the foundation was created to “Save Just One More”.
The inaugural dart tournament was held June 27, which coincidentally was PTSD Awareness Day. Nearly $2,500 in sponsorships from local businesses and several Cincinnati-area businesses helped support the event, while members of Post 337 gathered donated raffle baskets and handled preparations.
“The teamwork was phenomenal,” Laine told the Osgood Journal.
By tournament day, the Hall located at the Sunman Legion was filled with 52 raffle baskets, a Cody Farr Foundation information booth and 12 dart boards for more than 102 competitors. Players traveled from Florence, Cincinnati, Louisville, Richmond, Northern Indiana and other surrounding communities to compete. Laine also expressed her appreciation to Pioneer Vending for providing the dart boards and support for the darts.
Support also came from American Legion posts in Madison, Osgood and Richmond, along with several other local Legion posts that made donations. Members of the Sunman American Legion Auxiliary, Post 337 Sons of the American Legion and the Sunman Business Coalition all played a role in making the event a success.
The tournament raised $10,000 for the Cody Farr Foundation. According to the foundation, that amount is enough to help provide training for two service dogs for veterans or first responders. All proceeds from the event, excluding alcohol sales and gaming revenue, were donated to the foundation.
The planning committee was recognized during the event with an engraved plaque for its work. One Sons of the American Legion member, who asked not to be identified publicly, pledged to donate a puppy from an upcoming litter to the foundation for service dog training. Another Indiana resident, who also requested to remain anonymous, has committed to purchasing a second canine for the program.
Combined with the $10,000 raised during the tournament- enough to fund the training of two service dogs- the one-day event will ultimately result in four service dogs being placed with veterans and first responders who need them most.
The event also created new partnerships. Master Sgt. Metcalf, of the 123rd Air Control Squadron in Blue Ash, Ohio, where Laine serves, brought his PTSD awareness vehicle to the tournament after Laine shared the event plans with him. Metcalf has since started to collaborate with the Farr family—a connection Laine said likely would not have happened without the event.
Following the success of the first tournament, Sunman American Legion Post 337 plans to make it an annual event. The next tournament is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2027, with organizers hoping to welcome nearly 200 competitors.
Those interested in sponsoring, volunteering or participating can contact the Sunman American Legion Post 337 and ask for Leslie. More information about the Cody Farr Foundation is available at codyfarr.org.
