Grassroot Tennis Club joins Breast Cancer Awareness

A one-day Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament is the Grassroot Tennis Club’s (GTC) way of contributing towards Breast Cancer survivors.{{more}}

Named Tennis for Hope, the fund raising event is slated for Sunday, October 30, at the Grassroot Tennis Club’s home courts, located at Murray’s Road.

The Mixed Doubles Tournament targets pairs, who would pay an entrance fee, have an afternoon of Tennis, with all proceeds from the venture going to the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign.

On registration, participants will each be allowed a jersey with the pink ribbon and an afternoon of Tennis.

Additionally, the tournament will be played with pink balls, as the colour pink symbolizes support for breast cancer.

The pink balls were manufactured by Penn, and the organization will contribute a percentage of the sale of every tin of balls to a breast cancer research organisation.

Secretary of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Medical Association, Dr. Nikeisha Lewis, who was present at the launch of the venture at the GTC headquarters, last Wednesday morning, said that she was happy that another entity has come forward to play its part in assisting local victims of breast cancer.

Lewis said that whilst the disease cannot be eliminated, providing assistance for the patients can help cancer survivors live longer.

Lewis said that funds generated from such ventures are used to provide persons with medical treatment such as chemotherapy, some of which has to be done overseas.

The SVG Medical Association Secretary said that it is important that persons develop that awareness of breast cancer.

Head honcho of Grassroot Tennis Club Grant Connell told SEARCHLIGHT: “We are aiming to donate 5k, but who knows, we may go beyond that.”

Connell is appealing to business places with a social conscience to register at the Grassroot Tennis Club and help a worthy cause.

He said that the Mixed Doubles format was specifically chosen, as both males and females can be stricken by breast cancer.

The GTC head reiterated that its participants do not have to be skilled at the sport, but can learn on the spot, as there will be on the court coaching by the GTC coaches.

Connell said that apart from the registration fees, the pink balls will be sold to raise additional funds.

He sees the pink balls as great opportunity to acquire a rare piece of sporting memorabilia.

The Tennis for Hope tournament runs from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (RT)