It is almost time again for the Megan Daniel Annual Memorial Tournament with plans for this year to be the biggest and best ever. This year’s tournament has been given the moniker of “20 for 20” as they plan to raise that $20,000 in scholarship funds on the 20th birthday celebration of Lauren and Megan Daniel. It will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Lauren’s twin sister Meg was taken from her family in November of 2020, along with friends Katie Jo Vaughn and Ashlin Cox in a tragic accident near Chili Flats.
The family has since taken to keeping the memory of Meg alive with this annual tournament in her honor. In its first year it raised $10,000, in year two that total went up to $15,000 and this year the $20,000 is the goal. All of the money raised goes directly to college scholarships for graduating seniors from New Boston and DeKalb. Lauren and Wendy Laproviders.
will be presenting the DeKalb scholarships from last year’s tournament on May 3 in DeKalb, and then Lauren and her brother Beau Daniel will be presenting the New Boston scholarships on May 22.
Donations are now being accepted for this year’s tournament and organizers do have a 501c3 status so all donations are tax deductible.
This year’s tournament will include the softball tournament, a hot dog eating contest, a homerun derby, plus the raffle and a silent auction. There will also be JR’s Catering Company on site with their food truck.
If you want to make a donation to the raffle or silent auction you can do so by contacting Sarah Jackson at 903-908-5118. If you would like to make a monetary donation you can do that at Red River Credit Union in the Megan Daniel Memorial Fund.
Special commemorative t-shirts are also available for the tournament, and you can place your order for those with Wendy Lavergne by calling 903-276-- 4949.
The annual tournament, and all of the hard work and effort behind it, is the family’s way of giving back to their community while forever remembering and celebrating the life of Megan Daniel.
The twin sisters, Megan and Lauren, were born three months early and weighed just around three pounds. While looking so identical, a fact that they often used to their advantage, the twins were their own unique individuals. According to their mom, everything always came more natural for Lauren. Megan had to work for it. She recalled when the two were little and in gymnastics, where somersaults were so easy for Lauren, but not so much for Meg.
Things didn’t change as they got older as Lauren was a natural behind the wheel, but Sarah didn’t let Meg drive right away. Lynn Duffer tells the story of how Megan used Lauren’s drivers license to go get iced coffee.
Yet, both were fierce competitors as athletes, both excelling at athletics whether it be on the gym floor playing volleyball or basketball, or out on the diamond for the Lady Lions.
Today, Lauren is living her best life, working for Gracyn Elizabeth Bride in Texarkana, making new friends, and making plans for the future. She has changed her major in college to Mass Communications and will be transferring to Texarkana A&M-Texarkana with the goal of one day opening up her own bridal venue. Sarah says of Lauren, “She has a passion for helping people. I see so many of Meg’s attributes in her. She is just so thoughtful.”
If you need more information on the 3rd Annual Megan Daniel Memorial Softball Tournament, see their Facebook page. If you would like to register your softball team for the tournament, please call Shane Daniel at 903-306-8318.
