Peterborough Pickleball Players Heartwarming Support: In a heartwarming display of solidarity, 40 local pickleball players from Peterborough recently gathered to raise funds for a cause close to the hearts of many. The pickleball event was organized by local pickleball player and coach, Alan Sargeant, to support Elephant Nature Park (ENP) in Thailand. The park had suffered catastrophic flooding after the river that flows through the sanctuary burst its banks, leaving thousands of animals, including over 100 elephants, in critical need of aid.
Sargeant, a dedicated volunteer at the park, shared the devastation. “Staff and volunteers at the park have been working tirelessly to evacuate and rescue animals to higher ground,” he explained. “This was the most severe flooding ENP had ever experienced, and unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts more heavy rain in the coming months. The floodwaters have swept away all of the food and medical supplies for the elephants, dogs, and cats, leaving the sanctuary in critical need of resources. To make matters worse, there is still no electricity or water at ENP.”
Rallying the Local Pickleball Community
The pickleball event raised an impressive $1,520, which will be sent to Saveelephants.org through the Abraham Foundation’s Trunks Up program. HiSports in Oshawa generously donated balls, while Smash Courts in Peterborough provided gift certificates to be awarded to the winners.
Divided into Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced groups, the athletes competed in a round-robin format. Here are the results from the tournament:
Novice Group Winners
- Gold: Monte Hamilton
- Silver: Ed Lynch
- Bronze: Penny Jones
Intermediate Group Winners
- Gold: Charmayne Kocsis
- Silver: Wade Manley
- Bronze: Bruce Danford
Advanced Group Winners
- Gold: Cole Lester
- Silver: Jennie Davis
- Bronze: Marc Rochon
The Power of Community Support
Sargeant reflected on his deep connection to ENP, sharing how his family had volunteered there for over a month. “The work this organization does for the community is amazing. We’ve met these heroes of the environment, and we started this pickleball fundraiser because of the damage to their infrastructure. It was so devastating to see a place we loved so much distressed that we were moved to help,” he said. “We’re deeply grateful for the support from our compassionate local pickleball athletes. Every donation, every share, every act of kindness will make a massive difference during this challenging time.”
A Passion for Giving Back
Shelley Moloney, President of the Peterborough Pickleball Association, emphasized the impact of the event. “Our local Pickleball players participate in numerous charity events to support a cause, exercise, and have fun,” she noted. “Paddles for Pachyderms was an opportunity for players to turn their passion for pickleball into a force for good. It offered players of all levels, from beginner to advanced, the opportunity to play a sport they love while raising funds for a worthy cause.”
News in Brief: Peterborough Pickleball Players Heartwarming Support
Peterborough pickleball players came together for a charity event to support Elephant Nature Park in Thailand, which had been devastated by severe floods. The event, organized by Alan Sargeant, raised over $1,500 for animal rescue efforts at the sanctuary. Local businesses HiSports and Smash Courts also contributed. Participants competed in novice, intermediate, and advanced divisions, with winners recognized for their efforts. The community’s support highlighted the power of using sport to give back to meaningful causes.
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