This year’s Give Blood Play Hockey inline hockey charity tournament, scheduled Oct. 20-23 at The Rinks-Irvine Inline, is special in that it marks the tenth anniversary of the event, which owns distinction as the largest inline hockey charity tournament in the world.

“This year we hope to hit the $750,000 mark on the way to our goal of $1 million donated to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) for research into clinical trials and the genomics of diseases like cancer and blood disorders,” GBPH tournament co-founder Mary Quayle explained.

“As it is our 10th year, we are going to be really stepping up the fundraising. We are launching a “$10 for 10” campaign – if everyone can get 10 people to donate $10 for our tenth annual event, we would be able to meet our goals.”

Quayle noted that 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to CHOC. She encourages everyone to participate. The easiest way to do that, she said, is through www.giveblooodplayhockey.org.

Tournament organizers expect to surpass the 2,500th pint of donated blood at the 2016 event. Quayle noted that each pint of blood can save up to three lives. She remains amazed at the life-saving potential the tournament has provided to the community.

“Do the math,” she said. “GBPH has given enough blood to potentially save 7,500 lives. We have first-time donors to donors who have given all 10 years.”

Bloodmobiles will be on site Oct. 21-23.

Quayle said more than 100 teams will be participating in this year’s tournament. The early registration team fee (prior to Sept. 16) is $500 and increases to $550 after Sept. 16. There is a $25 team discount for two blood donors.

Divisions range from 6U through 18U, plus high school varsity and junior varsity teams, college, women’s, men’s and coed divisions. Skill levels are beginner to advanced.

For more information, email gbph4choc@gmail.com.

– Phillip Brents