A charity pickleball tournament has raised almost £4,000 – to be split between breast cancer and prostate cancer charities.
Saffron Walden Pickleball Club’s Pickleboobs and Balls event featured a stream of same-sex doubles matches, with partners changing throughout – and outperformed the previous year’s edition in terms of both participation and money raised.
It was the idea of club member Steph Grace, who successfully had treatment for breast cancer in 2020. As someone who had worked in medical fields previously, she found the experience “a real eye-opener”.
“They’re so supportive and helpful and everything else and clever, very successful, and I just wanted to do something to help.”
She started playing pickleball just before the pandemic, and enjoys the sport’s inclusivity: “You can play at whatever fitness level you have – if you are fit, all well and good. If you’re cunning, even better, because it’s strategic.”
They welcomed Errol Mckellar from his eponymous foundation, talking about his experience of prostate cancer.
“He gave us an address over tea and coffee, which was very moving, and hopefully has encouraged men to take their health seriously and to get themselves to the doctors if they’ve got symptoms, which was really powerful.”
And they are hoping to expand even further in the years to come – if a venue can accommodate them.
“There were people there that have been touched by cancer, so it was very much an awareness day as well as a good fun day: not gloomy, very light hearted, and successful in terms of raising money!”
