The Gleason Family YMCA hosted the wrestling event "Mayhem for a Cause" on Saturday night, which featured Wareham's own Chip DeBlois, in an effort to raise funds for the Y's Annual Campaign.

The campaign provides financial assistance to those who can't afford a full membership to the Y and for families sending their children to summer camps, raising approximately $300,000 each year from numerous fundraisers.

Eighteen wrestlers competed and provided a night of entertainment that lasted more than two hours.

Complete with concessions, merchandise, and souvenirs, Mayhem for a Cause took place on the Y's basketball courts. Children and their families sat around a raised platform ring set up in the middle of the gym. Some had their faces painted like wrestlers and others sported blow-up "boom boom" clappers to make extra noise. All ages were welcomed at this event, from toddlers to grandparents.

Spectators even had a chance to take pictures with the wrestlers during the event.

"We probably had 250 people at least, heading toward 300 at least," said Maria Golemo, membership director at the Y. "It's a nice thing. It makes us happy, it makes the kids happy."

Golemo worked with Teddy Goodz, a local wrestler and Chip DeBlois, a members of the gym and a Wareham firefighter, to put the event together. She began it last year and says the event is "near and dear" to her heart, since she grew up watching wrestling with her father.

"This is a choreographed wrestling event. It's a show, but these guys are actual wrestlers," she said.

Members of the community had their chance in the spotlight during the event. Lu Brito, a senior program director at the Y, was a guest announcer. Guest referee and personal trainer at the Y, Liz Sellinger, lifted a wrestler during the event, spun him around and threw him over her shoulders.

DeBlois, whose childhood dream was to become a wrestler, had training before he stepped into the ring. TKO'Ryan, a Wareham native who attended Upper Cape Regional Technical High School was also a wrestler at the event.

With donations from 16 sponsors, the Y was able to buy a wrestling package from Top Rope Promotions. The company brought in the ring, the wrestlers and cleaned up at the end of the night.