This Saturday (Apr 12) there will be a charity flag football tournament in honor of American expat Josh Burleson. Burleson tragically passed away unexpectedly at the age of 33 on Apr 15 last year, with his wife Cindy by his side.
The tournament, named The Burleson Cup, will take place from noon until 6pm at 335 Caochangdi Field and will raise money for Furry Tales, a local Beijing animal rescue charity, in memory of Burleson, who himself was a proud dog dad and sports enthusiast.
In his obituary, his family shared “If Josh wasn’t watching or playing a game, you could find him outside soaking up the sunshine or taking a walk with his dogs. Josh loved animals of all kinds and was an ardent supporter of animal rescues. Every trip Josh took included a visit to some sort of animal rescue and he and Cindy created a home in which all animals are welcomed and showered with love. Nothing set his mind at ease quite like spending time with Kima, Avon, Bagheera, and Lupe [his dogs].”
“Josh cared so deeply about the people in his life. Memories of Josh are marked by his consistent selflessness and support in all things, from the seemingly small (like how he always made sure his wife Cindy got to hear ‘Return of the Mack’ at any bar she went to) to showing up and being there for his family and friends during their times of need whether they asked or not. His love for Cindy is immeasurable; it was a privilege for anyone to bear witness to part of their story and glimpse what unconditional love could be.”
Teams for the tournament have already been set, but spectators are encouraged to come along and support in aid of the good cause. There will be food and drinks available from a range of vendors including The Local, Sips by Sal, Brownie Bites and Zona Cheese Steaks. Furry Tales will also be in attendance to take donations and share information about the fantastic work they do here in Beijing. There will also be Burleson Cup bucket hats available to purchase, with part of the proceeds going to Furry Tales.
If you’re unable to attend the tournament and still want to make a donation in memory of Burleson you can scan one of the QR codes in the poster below.
The Burleson Cup Flag Football Tournament will take place this Saturday, Apr 12 from noon until 6pm at 335 Caochangdi Field, attendance is free but donations are encouraged.
335 Caochangdi Field 草场地335号
335 Art Zone, Caochangdi, Caiyi Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区彩溢路草场地335艺术区
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Images: courtesy of the event organizers
Travis Burnett
A pioneer in the flag football community, Travis helped co-found the Flag Football World Championship Tour, FlagSpin and USA Flag. Featuring 15+ years of content creation for the sport of flag football, creating and managing the largest flag football tournaments on the planet, coaching experience at the youth and adult level as well as an active player with National and World Championship level experience.
