The Prostate Cancer Centre is hosting a one-day pickleball fundraiser on October 22nd at Mega Courts in the southeast to support prostate cancer awareness and men’s health. “We really like to get guys active,” said Jeff Davison, Prostate Cancer Centre CEO. “We talk about that in people’s health care every day and so why have a sit down dinner when we can actually get people out here playing and being active while raising money at the same time?” So far, close to 100 people have signed up and organizers say the tournament is open to players new to the sport or those who play regularly. “One of the best things about this tournament is we can constantly add more teams,” said Davison, “so sign up is still open until October 19th. “If people want to come out and play and raise some money and have a good time,” he added, “it really is the lead up into our big November campaign.” Davison said the organization is trying to raise as much money at the tournament and in November across the province to ensure that men and their families facing prostate cancer and other urological diseases are taken care of. “One of the biggest things people can do is just be active,” he said. “So I think for a lot of our patients, they got active in pickleball and so it made sense to us that we could put a tournament on and raise some money.” Diagnosed in 2019 Grant Meadows is living with prostate cancer. He was diagnosed in 2019 and received the ‘all-clear’ in 2021 but the cancer returned. He says the Prostate Cancer Centre is an asset. “Right from the start, the information sessions prior to surgery and then all the support as I got going up to surgery, plus post-surgery at that time, they had rehab programs, both yoga and weight type programs so it was very good,” he said. Meadows has been on his cancer journey for close to seven years and for the last three has been volunteering for the centre’s Man Van and the Rapid Access Clinic with peer support. He said he’s excited to be taking part in the upcoming tournament. “I’m a big fan of pickleball,” he said. “We played last year, had a great time, didn’t have the results we wanted but maybe this year but yeah, I know it’s a great fundraiser and it’s fun, it’s for a great cause and I think everybody that plays enjoys it -- so real good.” Mega Courts president Vlad Yoskoboinikov said it’s important to him to build a close knit community who support each other and tournaments like this are meaningful. “Prostate cancer, honestly speaking, has a special meaning to me because my dad passed away from prostate cancer,” he said. “But at the end of the day it’s nice to have a business, but it’s nice to be part of something and it’s nice to give back so I just think it’s important.” Learn more about the event and how to sign up here.
