The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Mission Viejo hosted its 6th Rally for Life Tennis Tournament on Sun., April 6, 2014 at the Tennis Pavilion at the Marguerite Recreation Center.
It wasn't your typical tennis tournament. Each doubles team played three rounds of tennis against three opponents of similar ability. Each round was a 41-point game. The first team to reach 41 points or the team that was ahead after 30 minutes won. Each player served four points and the teams changed sides after all four players served. The team with the highest total points win/loss percentage is the tournament champion.
According to Sam Cho, Community Services Coordinator, who has set the format and schedule for the last six years said, “We try to make it fun, but intense and any team can win.”
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It was a family-friend affair—doubles partners included many husband/wife, father/daughter, grandfather/grandson, boyfriend/girlfriend teams along with friends playing together. If you didn’t have a partner you were matched with one.
“It rocked. We had a record number of participants for a great cause,” Brian Gruner said. Eighty-eight players entered the tournament this year. The youngest players were nine year old girls.
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Throughout the day everyone enjoyed a complimentary lunch, beverages and snacks.
Smells of fresh cooked crepes filled the air as Olivier Fabre served up the perfect, paper-thin French Crepes to top the day. Everyone could create their own sweet and savory crepes with strawberries, bananas, nuts, crème, nutella, caramel, berries, sugar and lemons for a donation to Relay For Life.
The winners were announced in the red division: Mark Madson and Ross Fetterolf won and in the purple division: Laura McDowell and Nanci Sherman won.
The event concluded with a silent auction that included 16 baskets and various gift certificates donated by local businesses. Some of the items included a one hour session with tennis Pro Blaine Patton, Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet and Ice Cream Maker, complimentary tickets to Saddleback Performing Arts production of Hello Dolly, two Elements 55 and 80-minute massages, a three month family membership to the YMCA, two complimentary meals to Slaters 50/50 , two free rounds of golf with a golf cart at Casa Del Sol, $50 to CA Pizza Kitchen and much, much more.
Rally For Life, team Mission Possible’s fundraiser wasn’t just about a game, but it was all about creating awareness and raising money to fight against cancer. The tournament and auction raised almost $3,000.
Thank you to the businesses, sponsors, volunteers and players who made this event successful. To register or volunteer with Relay go to www.mvrelay.org, www.facebook.com/mvrelay or twitter @mv_RelayForLife.
If you have any questions, please call Margot Ferron at 949/309-1235 or gomargotgo@aol.com.
