The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), the American Cancer Society and UTR Sports are teaming up to fight cancer through Doubles Dink for Cancer, a first-of-its-kind community-based fundraising program. The year-round program is designed to unite communities around the beloved sport of pickleball and in support of a single mission: to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
With nearly 50 million adult Americans playing pickleball, Doubles Dink for Cancer invites players of all levels to play pickleball or organize an event to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer and raise funds to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families. Hosted on UTR Sports’ innovative software, these volunteer-led, round robin doubles tournaments can happen anytime, anywhere—from a local pickleball or tennis club, to community courts or even homemade, temporary courts lined with chalk. Events are designed to be fun and open to everyone, including the most experienced pickleball players and people picking up a paddle for the first time.
“Pickleball offers physical, social and emotional benefits—all important to a battle against cancer. Doubles Dink for Cancer builds on this as a fun way to get moving, raise awareness and leverage the pickleball community for good,” said APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “With the majority of people having a personal connection to cancer, we hope you join us in rallying behind the American Cancer Society to bring renewed hope for patients and their families on a national scale.”
Doubles Dink for Cancer will also showcase how pickleball can play a part in cancer avoidance, as people maintain an active and healthy lifestyle—an important factor in reducing cancer risk. Cancer can impact anyone at any age and finding cancer early increases survival rates. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year. At present, one in two men and one in three women in the United States will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Doubles Dink for Cancer will donate 70 percent of proceeds from registration fees to further the American Cancer Society’s mission through funding cancer research discoveries, enhancing direct patient support in 20,000 communities across the country and through advocating for policies that enhance access to cancer care.
“We’re excited to work with the Association of Pickleball Players to broaden our reach and amplify the message that physical activity, like playing pickleball, can help prevent cancer,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. “Uniting this community around reducing cancer risks and supporting our mission is invaluable and will help us impact more lives.”
Doubles Dink for Cancer is now live in Florida, providing a pilot launch in one of the strongest pickleball communities in the world before its national roll out in Summer 2024. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area represents the single largest concentration of pickleball players in Florida, with 20 percent of the state’s pickleball-playing population residing in the area. According to the APP’s 2023 player participation research data, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area is the fourth largest pickleball market in the nation, with 3.1 percent of their population having played the sport at least once in the past twelve months.
Each Doubles Dink for Cancer event, regardless of tournament size, will be supported with the following signature elements:
- An event page on UTR Sports where organizers can invite friends, manage registration and communicate with players
- Resources for beginner event organizers to easily manage the tournament, including a toolkit with sample schedules, scoresheets, brackets, volunteer needs and more
- For more experienced organizers, access to UTR Sports technology to run the event using its tournament management software
- Branded T-shirts for event participants
“We are excited and honored to be partners on this great initiative,” said Mark Leschly, UTR Sports Chairman and CEO. “Cancer impacts so many Americans, and the opportunity to support the battle while playing the great sport of pickleball is a win for everyone. We are proud to host these events on UTR Sports and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Community members interested in planning a local event or serving as a Doubles Dink for Cancer ambassador can access resources and additional information at theapp.global/doublesdinkforcancer. Each player will pay a registration fee to participate, as they do for any local tournament or court rental, with 70 percent of proceeds supporting the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving cancer research and commitment to advancing health equity through essential programs and services.
In addition to nationwide community events, Doubles Dink for Cancer will have a strong presence at all APP Tour events. Local cancer survivors, caregivers, advocates and their families will be recognized on Championship Court for as living proof of the American Cancer Society’s mission. Doubles Dink for Cancer will also be highlighted through on-site activations, signage and broadcasts at APP Tour events.
More information, including updates for Doubles Dink for Cancer’s national roll out, will be available at theapp.global/doublesdinkforcancer.