Forty-eight players hit the courts at Emerson Playground last month for the second annual 3-on-3 for Charity tournament, raising $7,800 for NMDP — the national bone marrow donor program that helped save Concord teenager Ewan van der Swaagh's life. The total more than doubled last year's haul and pushed the family's two-year fundraising total past $11,000.

Why this cause is personal for the whole family.

Ewan was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at age five after spiking a 108-degree fever. His mother, Gemma van der Swaagh, rushed him to Emerson Hospital, and he was transferred by ambulance to Children's Hospital for treatment. He received two bone marrow transplants through the NMDP registry and has now been in remission for more than eight years.

A tournament that grew fast.

The inaugural event in July 2025 was limited to boys entering grades six through nine — but the enthusiasm was enough that this year's tournament expanded to players ages 13 to 20 across three grade divisions, competing in teams of three or four under sunny skies. Every entry fee, plus a matching donation, went straight to NMDP.

A family effort with a bigger goal in mind.

Seth van der Swaagh organized the tournament with his wife Gemma and sons Cal and Graham. After last year's event, he said the family wanted to do more than raise money — they wanted to build something lasting in the community.

"We'd love to see Concord be a bit more of a basketball town and try to create a little bit more community and competitiveness," Seth said. "We have that great facility at Emerson."

NMDP, formerly known as Be The Match, runs the world's largest bone marrow donor registry — the same one that made both of Ewan's transplants possible. With more than $11,000 raised over two summers at the same courts where Ewan now plays pickup, the family's next milestone is a third annual tournament, though no date has been set yet.