Second Annual Pickleball Tournament Hits New Record
This year, the Moffitt Pickleball Tournament, presented by Humana and Conviva Solutions, raised more than $25,000. The funds raised support innovative research at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Cancer survivors, supporters and staff members geared up and hit the courts to participate, all with their own reasons for loving the game.
Why Pickleball?
For Jack McKenna, Moffitt’s chief human resources officer, pickleball has become a regular activity.
“It is amazing exercise and a great social activity where you meet new people,” McKenna said. “I love both the fun and competition.”
He’s not alone. Stephanie Hogue, research study manager at Moffitt, is also a pickleball fanatic. She began playing about two years ago, starting with group training sessions.
“I think the social aspect of the sport is what drew me to it the most,” Hogue said. “Yes, it can also be competitive, which is fun, too, but it’s more about meeting new people and comradery than anything else.”
For Jeffrey Huang, MD, a senior member of the Anesthesiology Department, his love of ping-pong and badminton led him to try pickleball during the pandemic. After a few games, he was hooked.
“It’s a sport for everyone of all ages and skill levels, offering the chance to meet new people and make new friends,” Huang said.
Benefits of the Game
A recent study spearheaded by Moffitt researcher Nathan Parker, PhD, found that playing racket sports such as pickleball is beneficial for cancer survivors.
The Project Rally study, published in Healthcare, found that patients in the program increased their physical activity significantly. On average, cancer survivors enrolled in the study increased their weekly moderate-to-strenuous physical activity by over 80 minutes.
Showing Support
Whether you love the game for the exercise benefits, the social atmosphere or the competition, everyone was a part of something bigger: giving back to cancer research.
“Our goal with the tournament each year is to promote wellness among our team members and patients while raising even more funding to advance lifesaving cancer research,” Huang said.
Moffitt is planning a third tournament in 2026.
