And I don’t even know how to put yesterday into words.
As I was standing there and watching it all happen, I was reminded exactly why we do this and that yesterday wasn’t really about softball.
It was about Mia. Mia, who is fighting something no child should ever have to fight. Mia, who was released from the hospital early yesterday afternoon and could have very easily gone home, crawled into bed and rested. Instead, she came to the ballpark. She came out into the heat. She smiled. She watched. She engaged.
She reminded every single one of us what strength actually looks like. That girl was the MVP before the first pitch was ever thrown.
Mia, I hope someday you understand what you did yesterday. You gave all of us something much bigger than a reason to play softball. You gave us a reason to come together. A reason to fight a little harder. A reason to believe that even when things are incredibly hard, there is still room for joy, laughter and hope.
To Mia and her family, thank you for letting us be part of your fight. Thank you for trusting us with something so important. We hope yesterday reminded you that you don’t have to carry this alone. There are so many people standing behind you, beside you and praying for better days ahead.
To every team and every player who came out and played, Thank YOU! We could it have been successful without you. You gave up your Saturday to sweat in the heat, compete, laugh, cheer and play for something bigger than yourselves. Every at bat, every inning and every dollar raised mattered.
To every business and person who donated, thank you for believing in this cause. The raffle prizes, silent auction items, gift cards, baskets, tickets, bats, jerseys and every other donation helped turn an idea into something that can actually make a difference for Mia and her family.
To Lions Park, thank you for giving us a place to bring everyone together, for allowing us to host this tournament and for working concessions and taking care of everyone throughout the day. We are incredibly grateful.
And then there are my people.
The ones who showed up before I even had to ask.
The ones who helped me set up, haul things, organize things, run raffles, create brackets, manage the silent auction, answer questions, fix problems and clean up when it was all over. The ones who looked at me when I was overwhelmed and simply said, “I’ve got it.”
The ones who encouraged me when I doubted myself, and reminded me that it didn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
You know who you are. And I hope you know that I could not have done this without you!
There is a lot of work that goes into putting something like this together. Sometimes people see the tournament, the games, the raffles and the crowd and don’t see everything that happens behind the scenes.
But I do.
And I will never forget the people who showed up for us so that we could show up for Mia.
To everyone who bought a raffle ticket, placed a bid, donated, shared a post, bought concessions, came to watch, played a game or simply stood on the sidelines and cheered — thank you.
Every single one of you became part of Mia’s story yesterday.
And maybe that’s the most beautiful part of all. One person can’t cure cancer. One tournament can’t make it disappear. But a community can make sure a family doesn’t feel alone while they fight it.
Yesterday, we didn’t just play softball.
We showed Mia that she is loved. We showed her family that they are supported.
And we reminded them that they have an entire community standing behind them.
That is Brya Strong!!! There was no better way to honor her yesterday!
Now that I’m sobbing (again)….
Until next year!
Brya Strong -Adult Coed Softball Tournament
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In loving memory of Brya Nicole Graham 5/4/2009- 8/8/2021
Pumped up for the Brya Strong Softball Tournament?! Because we sure are! 🥎🔥
Game schedules are officially in the hands of team managers, which means we’re just days away from an incredible day of softball, community, and supporting an amazing cause.
Think you’re just coming to watch softball? Think again. 🙃
🎟️ We’ve got some AMAZING raffle prizes waiting for you, including:
🏏 USA Slowpitch bats
👕 Custom team jerseys
🎡 An Iowa State Fair basket
🤼 UNI Wrestling tickets
🔥 A S’mores basket
💳 Gift cards
🎁 And SO much more!
So bring your lawn chairs, bring your friends, bring your lucky raffle mojo, and maybe even your wallet (trust us… you’re going to want raffle tickets 😉).
Every raffle ticket purchased helps support a Mia who is battling childhood cancer, so while you’re hoping to win something awesome, you’re also making a real difference.
We can’t wait to see everyone at the 7th Annual Brya Strong Adult Coed Softball Tournament at Lions Park in Altoona!! First set of games are at 9:00am. Let’s pack the park, have some fun, and make this our biggest year yet! 💛🥎💙
07/24/2026
Want to follow Mia’s journey?
Do so here:
Marissa Lopez on TikTok 2475 Followers, 2794 Following, 366.3k Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by Marissa Lopez
07/23/2026
Every year, our Brya Strong Tournament is about so much more than softball. It’s about giving a family fighting childhood cancer a weekend where they can feel surrounded by love, support, and hope. It’s about reminding them they aren’t fighting alone.
Behind the scenes, though, there are so many expenses that come with making this day happen. We want to provide lodging for the family so they can simply be present and enjoy the weekend without worrying about where they’ll stay. We also have the cost of paying umpires, tournament expenses, and all of the little things that most people never see but are necessary to make this event a success.
If you’ve ever wondered how you could help, this is it.
If you’re able to give—even $5 or $10—it truly adds up. Every donation helps us create a memorable weekend for this family and allows more of what we raise that day to go where it belongs: supporting them.
If you would prefer to do a direct donation to the family, you can do that too!
If donating isn’t possible, sharing this post would mean the world to us. You never know who might see it and be in a position to help.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in Brya Strong and helping us continue this mission. Because of this community, we’re able to remind families facing the unimaginable that they are loved, supported, and never alone.
Nicole Taylor | @BryaStrong Venmo is a digital wallet that lets you make and share payments with friends. You can easily split the bill, cab fare, or much more. Download the iOS or Android app or sign up on Venmo.com today.
07/22/2026
Registration is full! However, there is still a way to get on the waitlist! If you’re still interested, please reach out and I will add you. Teams that have not paid in full by August 1st will be dropped and the waitlist will take up those spots. Thank you all for filling this up! Let’s raise some money for Mia and her family!
07/21/2026
We had a team drop! ONE spot left to fill!
Let me know if you want in!
🥎 7th Annual Brya Strong Adult Coed Softball Tournament
Tournament Rules & Information
📅 Tournament Date: August 8, 2026
⏰ Registration Deadline: August 1, 2026
Registration
* Entry Fee: $250 per team
* Teams must be paid in full by August 1, 2026.
* Any team not paid in full by 8/1/26 will be removed from the tournament, and their spot will be offered to the next team on the waiting list.
Team Format
* Teams must consist of players 18 years of age and older and either:
* 7 Men / 3 Women, or
* 8 Men / 4 Women
Equipment & Game Rules
* USA-approved bats only
* USA Coed Softball Rules apply
* Men hit a 12” 52/300 softball
* Women hit an 11” 52/300 softball
* Pitching Arc: 6–10 feet
Courtesy Runners
* USA Courtesy Runner rules apply:
* One courtesy runner per gender
* One courtesy runner for the pitcher
Game Format
* 50-minute time limit
* Championship Game: No time limit
* Run Rule: 10 runs after 4 innings
Extra Innings
* Each inning begins with:
* 2 outs
* Your last recorded out starts on 2nd base
* No courtesy runners are allowed during extra innings.
* If your last out had a courtesy runner, that courtesy runner may not run again for the batter in extra innings.
Umpire Responsibility
The winning team is responsible for providing 1–2 umpires for the next game on their field.
Exception: If the winning team plays immediately afterward, the losing team will provide the 2 umpires.
Home Run Rules
Men
* No free home runs per game.
* Home Run Bracelets may be purchased before your first game.
* $20 per bracelet
* A bracelet allows that player to hit unlimited home runs for their team.
* There is no limit to the number of bracelets a team may purchase.
Women
* Unlimited home runs
Tournament Format
🏆 Bracket style will be determined based on the number of registered teams.
07/08/2026
Meet Mia! Mia is this year’s sponsored child for the Brya Strong Adult Coed Softball Tournament and here is her story:
Mia is 10 years old and has the sweetest heart. She loves to dance, spend time with her friends and family, and has a big personality.
On April 7, what we thought was simple neck pain became the beginning of a journey we never expected. We took Mia to our local hospital in Bettendorf, Iowa, where doctors discovered a brain tumor. She was immediately transferred to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain. On April 10, she had her first brain tumor removal surgery.
After her surgery, we were hopeful that the hardest part was behind us. But we soon learned that Mia had an extremely rare and aggressive brain cancer called CIC-DUX4 sarcoma, which had already grown back and spread through her cerebrospinal fluid.
On April 30, just one day before Mia's 10th birthday, she underwent her second brain tumor removal surgery.
Since then, Mia has completed 34 rounds of radiation and is continuing chemotherapy. She has completed 4 of her 14 planned rounds of chemotherapy.
The hospital has been our home for more than 90 days, and Mia still has many months of treatment ahead of her.
Even through everything she has endured, Mia continues to smile, dance, make her care team laugh, and bring joy to everyone she meets. Her strength, resilience, and positive spirit inspire us every single day. It is a true honor to sponsor Mia this year and continue to support Iowa Families affected with Childhood Cancer
06/24/2026
Several people have reached out asking how they can help support the 7th Annual Brya Strong Adult Coed Softball Tournament, and we are incredibly grateful for every offer of support.
If you’d like to help, we are currently accepting:
🩷 Raffle Item Donations – Gift baskets, gift cards, merchandise, services, or other items that can be used in our raffle fundraiser.
🩷 Tournament Donations – Monetary donations to help offset tournament expenses and ensure that as much money as possible goes where it is needed most.
🩷 Direct Family Donations – For those who would like to contribute directly to the family, donations can also be sent through Venmo.
Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. This tournament was created to honor Brya’s legacy and support families facing childhood cancer, and it continues because of the generosity of our amazing community.
If you would like to donate a raffle item or make a contribution, please send me a message for details.
Thank you for helping us make this year’s tournament a success. 💛⚾
Nicole Taylor | @BryaStrong Venmo is a digital wallet that lets you make and share payments with friends. You can easily split the bill, cab fare, or much more. Download the iOS or Android app or sign up on Venmo.com today.
🥹🥹Things are really coming together and we have some EXCITING things to raffle off! We are just missing a couple things that people really enjoy!
So.. if you are or know someone who is a:
Photographer willing to donate a family session 📸
Tattoo Artist willing to donate a session 🖊️
Or a DJ 🎤willing to donate a few hours on 8/8/26 please reach out!
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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Des Moines, IA
50317