By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer PELHAM— First responders from all over Shelby County gathered together at Oak Mountain Lanes in Pelham for a little friendly competition Aug. 24.

Fire and police representatives from Alabaster, Pelham, Helena, Calera, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office all entered a bowling tournament to benefit The Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation.

“We’re big fans of Wings of Hope,” said Officer Paul Johnson with the Alabaster Police Department. “The organization goes to benefit families with terminally ill children and that’s what we are here for, to just help them any way that we can.”

Teams of five from each of the represented areas signed up for this annual event, and many had previously participated in the tournament.

“It’s an awesome organization,” Pelham Police Officer Brad Jordan said. “Tonya (Willingham) is an awesome mother, prosecutor and a good friend of ours, and we will always come out and support things like this.”

Willingham is vice president and a board member for The Wings of Hope Pediatric Foundation, an organization that provides families with emotional support, meals, house cleaning, lawn care and, if necessary, financial assistance with paying bills.

All the work done at The Wings of Hope is done on a volunteer basis, according to the organization’s website, and every dollar donated goes directly to relieving families.

Jordan said the event rallied a lot of support from the Pelham Police Department, and it took a lot to narrow the team down to five people.

“We are all a close family in Shelby County, so this is a great way to foster that relationship,” Jordan said. “It’s always great when you get out here and do things like this with your peers.”