Pickleball on the Moon
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Pickleball on the Moon is T-minus one week.
Why it matters: The tournament with festival vibes is a premier pickleball event for Huntsville, where the sport is booming, and will raise funds for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation's Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund.
- The fund helps the hospital's Breast Center patients and their families cover utilities and other necessities while in treatment.
How it works: The festivities kick off May 1 with the opening celebration party at Back Forty Brewery with a live band and more. The tournament runs May 2-3 at The Picklr.
- Organizer Max Patin says they'll cap the number of players at 300, and as of Thursday afternoon they were at 230. Registration is open till midnight tonight.
What they're saying: "The key for us is the charity," said Patin, president of Huntsville Pickleball Club.
- They aim to raise around $20,000 — a goal they're likely to hit as they have each year to date, he said.
Catch up quick: It's the tournament's fifth year, Patin said, and though it started as "Pickled Pink," it has always supported the same fund.
- It has also bounced around different locations, starting at the Sandra Moon Community Complex then to Madison for a year.
- Original plans were to hold this year's tournament at the still-under-construction complex of 25 courts at John Hunt Park, Patin said, but construction delays spurred them to move it to The Picklr.
The latest: New this year, along with the indoor venue with professional courts, are expanded divisions of play.
- Teams in the doubles competitions for men, women and mixed pairs are playing for $500 each, with gold medalists winning $250, silver $150 and bronze $100.
- Players can also win nearly $8,000 in packages for pickleball gear, local business gift baskets and experience packages.
Driving the news: Patin has a personal connection to the cause, as his mixed doubles partner went through treatment last year.
- CEO Julie Schumacher of title sponsor KODA Technologies chose that lead position in honor of a corporate vice president currently undergoing treatment as well, Patin said.