Unusual fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

By Katie Burrell - Indy Star

When a group of scuba divers went looking for a way to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, they decided on a novel idea: playing darts underwater for prizes.

Hosted by Diver's Supply Indy and Aqua Pro HD, the underwater darts tournament will be Aug. 18 at Warren Central High School on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis.

In the event, a team of two scuba divers will throw four Toypedo "darts" through square targets made from PVC pipe.

Like playing a game of darts on land, the center bull's-eye is worth the greatest number of points. If the divers manage to bounce the Toypedos off the surface of the pool, points are doubled.

The winning team will win a prize.

"Like a race, people sign up and care how well they do, but the real goal is to raise money for LLS," tournament organizer Preston Hobbie said.

According to Hobbie, an instructor at Diver's Supply Indy, his club had always looked for ways to give back to the community but never found the right opportunity.

It wasn't until 2008, when his sister was diagnosed with lymphoma, that he realized he had found something worth raising money for.

Then, in 2009, one of his students was diagnosed with leukemia.

Hobbie, an Indianapolis resident, found a model for the tournament from another diving group in Cincinnati.

It successfully raised money for breast cancer, and he felt he had enough passion to spearhead the event.

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