On Saturday, Nov. 16 hundreds of people will gather for a special event to commemorate the life of Alice Kate.

Chuck Heck, Alice’s father, said the event had been in the works for an extended period of time, but after his daughter’s passing he wanted it to be even grander.

The event will take place at Bill Watson Memorial Park and will have a variety of events including a silent auction, live bands, pie and hotdog eating contests, and there will be several chances to meet professional baseball players.

However, the true stars of the show will be the 130 athletes who will be taking part in the miracle league baseball games, which puts the spotlight on athletes with special needs who will be competing in a number of games throughout the day,  Heck said.

He hopes it gives the athletes and the community members  an experience they’ll remember forever.

“They’re going to be the star of the show and go through everything a major league baseball player would go through. It’s going to be their day,” Heck said.

Heck was hoping his daughter would be able to take part in the event, but Heck said the community support has been incredible.

There are businesses working to sponsor the event and over 180 volunteers who will be working at the event.

Heck may not be able to see his daughter out on the field, but he knows the positive impact an event like this can have for a community.

“To go out and see, hear and talk with so many businesses and people, the tears and crying. It’s just overwhelmed me with so much support,” Heck said.

This is the first year for the event, but Heck said it’ll become an annual gathering for community members and athletes.

There are additional plans as well, such as commissioning a float for children with special needs to take part in local parades or events.

The Alice Kate Special Needs Project Nonprofit also worked to create a new assisted living facility.

Heck said he wanted to know if something ever happened to him that there would be a place for those with special needs to receive the care they require.

That’s why he decided to start work on creating a facility, which could take care of children like his daughter.

The plan was set in motion and the ground for the new facility will be broken on Dec. 26, what would’ve been Alice Kate’s 8th birthday.

In the original design there was a single bedroom that would be built specifically for Alice Kate. Heck knows his daughter will never get to see the facility she helped create, but he knows her memory will live on when the St. Oaks Care Center is constructed.

Pictures will adorn the bedroom walls in remembrance of Alice Kate and will serve as a reminder of all the good she’s inspired within her community.