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03/23/2022 09:00 AMFor the last nine years, Lesly Wagner, director of pickleball for Guilford Racquet and Swim Club (GRSC), has helped the club raise funds for Parkinson’s research with its annual Pickleball Tournament. Since 2013, “The Pickleball Lady,” as Wagner is affectionately known, has coordinated this event and this year it has special meaning for both the club and her personally.
In conjunction with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson’s research, Wagner and the staff at GRSC are already prepping for the big tournament on Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Pickleball has exploded in popularity in the last few years, but Wagner and the club aren’t just jumping on the band wagon. Wagner and her team have known about and have been promoting the benefits and fun of pickleball for almost a decade. According to Wagner, the game’s popularity is what makes the fundraiser an important opportunity for the club.
Wagner said the inspiration for the event came from her friend Wendy, a former Division I college tennis player who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 2012. It was while she was playing tennis that Wendy first realized something was off and decided to see a neurologist, according to Wagner.
“I have known Wendy for years, and we played tennis all the time,” said Wagner. “I was always happy just to win a game against Wendy, but we began to notice a decline in her skills and all this unfolded and she received her diagnosis. About a month later, I saw Wendy one night when I was out for dinner and the idea was like a light bulb going off. I realized that pickleball would be perfect for her and possibly help her situation, and I knew that we needed to create an event that would help.”
Wagner noted that “pickleball is very similar to tennis, but a little easier on the body. It’s a great way to keep Wendy involved. Since she’s picked up the sport, Wendy’s symptoms have improved.”
Wagner formed a collaboration with Team Fox, the fundraising arm of the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the event has become a popular and important mechanism for the club to give back to the community.
Pickleball has become even more popular at the GRSC, as members of all ages participate form teens to octogenarians and is still growing, according to Wagner.
“It’s inspirational. We have young kids and even folks in their 90s playing. One of the great aspects of pickleball is how intimate it is. You get a great workout, but you’re also so close to your opponents and it has a much broader social element to it than I’ve seen in any other sport,” Wagner said. “The winning of the point is secondary to how dynamic the point was and how much fun it was. It also has a flatter learning curve—it’s pretty easy to pick up as a game and have fun. If you’ve have fun, you’ve won.”
That spirit applies to the tournament, as well.
“The three to four hours on that afternoon, where we’re making everyone feel good about what they’re doing, that’s our opportunity to really connect with folks,” Wagner said. “Each year has been getting better and better, so we are really excited about the event this year.”
Wagner’s passion to help was first lit by her friend’s diagnosis, but Wagner’s mother sadly passed away from a similar Parkinson’s-like affliction, making the drive to help even more personal.
“Having this touch me so closely made my efforts go on steroids, and the club has always been about community,” she said. “We are doing a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels at the end of March, and we do Aces for Autism as well. Sarah Boone, who is the manager/owner of the club, is all about community, whether you are a club member or not. It is a real privilege to be a part of that here, and 100 percent of the donations go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.”
To donate, visit Wagner’s link at Team Fox at michaeljfox.org and search “Pickleball for Parkinson’s” to find the donation link. Residents can also stop in 420 Church Street to fill out an entry application, enter online at www.guilfordracquet.com, or call the GRSC to register or donate at 203-453-4367.
The event will be held Saturday, April 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. at GRSC. This is an adult-only event. A $75 minimum donation is appreciated and required to participate.