Robert Giebel and his children will be the beneficiaries of the Cranberry Community Uniting People softball tournament and golf classic this year. The Lancaster Township family lost its mother and wife, who died suddenly in March.

CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Community Uniting People softball tournament and golf classic board has chosen a family to benefit from this year's charity event, set for Aug. 3 through 5.

Robert Giebel was struggling with multiple sclerosis when his wife, Michele, died unexpectedly in March.

Giebel and his three children, Heather, 13, Renee, 11, and Bobby, 8, suddenly found themselves without a wife and a mother.

Giebel had worked for H.J. Heinz for 22 years when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, forcing him into early retirement.

His wife stepped up to help support the family by being a hair stylist and, for a few years, operated a licensed day care center in her home. She also had volunteered at an animal hospital and was a Girl Scout leader.

She awoke early one Saturday morning to help Giebel and their son get ready for a father-son outing. When Giebel returned to their Lancaster Township home at noon, he asked his daughters where their mother was. They said she went back to bed, and when he checked on her, she was dead.

Michelle had been to the doctor's office recently because she was not feeling well and was told she must have a virus or flu.

Giebel, his children, and their friends watched as their mother's body was removed from their home.

Cathy Cortazzo, the event chairwoman, said the Cranberry CUP board received many applications, and the one for the Giebel family came from a Seneca Valley School District counselor.

This year the Cranberry CUP expanded the beneficiary application boundaries to the entire Seneca Valley district, instead of just Cranberry Township and Seven Fields.

"As we have in the past, we hope to help many other families, too. It will depend on how much we raise," said Cortazzo.

"When I called (Robert) to ask him if he would be our Inspirational Family, he had to pull off the side of the road with the kids in the car and was in tears of relief," said Cortazzo.

"He said that all he wants is his best friend and the mother of his children back, but there was a big weight lifted to know that some of the financial burden will be taken care of.

"I told him that he just needed to concentrate on helping his children with their grief and to be strong for them."

Heather is in eighth grade and enjoys dance classes at the Siris School of Performing Arts. She plans to join the Seneca Valley Marching Band this summer.

Renee also takes dance lessons at Siris and enjoys roller-skating.

Bobby is a second grader who enjoys baseball and trading Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

CRANBERRY TWP — Here are events for the seventh annual Cranberry CUP golf classic and charity softball tournament:<b>Aug. 3Cranberry Highlands Golf Course</b>10 a.m. — Cranberry CUP Golf Classic7 to 10:30 p.m. — Kick-off party<b>Aug. 4Cranberry Community Park</b>10 a,m.— Opening ceremony and the softball tournament begins<b>Aug. 5Cranberry Community Park</b>Softball championship games6 p.m. — Raffle drawing<b>Details</b>Anyone can attend the kick-off party and opening day ceremonies. All of the softball team registrations are full.Monetary donations can be mailed to: Cranberry CUP, P.O. Box 1614, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.For more information, call Cathy Cortazzo at 724-612-5663, or email her at cortazzo@zbzoom.net or visit the Web site at: www.cranberrycup.org.