Story / Pictures from Carol Doughty- Pickleball Canada Ambassador for Whitby, Ontario
The 3rd Annual Pickleball and Pies tournament held in Woodstock, Ontario raised $4,050.00 in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto thanks to Marg Johnson, her team, and all the participants and their friends. This was a really fun team tournament organized by Marg, the grandmother of Aleeda who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in 2012. She recovered from 3 surgeries and is now a healthy, happy, active 4- year- old who honoured the attendees with her presence, smile, and stickers which she stuck on just about everyone. Aleeda’s mom,Tania, stayed at RMHC Toronto for a total of 527 days during the wait for Aleeda’s heart transplant. The money raised will go directly to RMHC Toronto to help other families.
The Shoe Fly Pie Team won over the Twinkle Pie, Grasshopper Pie, and Cheeseburger Picklepie, but overall, we all won because of the fun we had playing and meeting different players from the Windsor, Hamilton, London, Woodstock, Whitby, and Bowmanville areas; enjoying the abundance of snack foods, cold drinks, subs, and pies that were generously donated by Al and Alice Schut of The Pie Place,Embro; and participating in the raffle and Silent Auction while taking part in an excellently organized and fun, timed tournament.
Please see the photos, especially the ones of Aleeda and her family.
Mark your calendars for next year’s Pickleball and Pies on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Next year, the participants will sign up as singles and be placed with another player to give everyone a chance to meet and play with other pickleballers in a fun, timed, team tournament that supports a needed cause.
