Aiken Pickleball News

Drop-in play is held in gym 2 at Odell Weeks most weekday mornings.  (See calendar for exact dates.)  The format for this is mixed level play (all skill levels playing together) 8:45 - 10:00 AM and court designation play (courts separated by skill levels) from 10:00 - 11:00.  We'd like to ask all players to be prepared to move to the court designation format at 10:00 AM.    A separate paddle cue should be placed over by Court 6 for the 3.5 and above for use on Courts 5 and 6.

Sometimes, all it takes is one person or one group of people with initiative to make a big difference.  Such is the case with Mike Howard and his pickleball group.  For a while now, this group has been bringing non-perishable food items to their games to be donated to the Golden Harvest Food Bank.  This past November, they upped their game by promoting a canned food drive throughout the entire pickleball community.  Volunteers picked up donations at the Smith Hazel, Odell Weeks, and Gregg Park recreation areas.  By the end of the food drive, a whopping 369 pounds of food were donated to Golden Harvest by the pickleball community.

But it doesn’t end there.  The same small group of people held a raffle to raise money for Golden Harvest, which advertises that for every $1 raised they can provide three meals.   For several weeks in December, this group sold raffle tickets, culminating their efforts on December 18 at the Dink for Tots event held at the Virginia Acres Park pickleball courts.  By the end of the day, they had raised $1,005, which translates to 3,015 meals at a time when demand for food resources is at a high because of inflation and supply chain issues.

The initiative of just a few people along with the generosity of the entire pickleball community has made an incredible impact to the Aiken area: 369 pounds of food and an additional 3,015 meals.  That’s cause for celebration.  That’s Pickleball with a Purpose.

Another great turnout for Dink for Tots this Sunday.  The photos say it all (select Read More)..  Thanks to Tanya Hoffman and everyone else that a hand in putting this together.  Golden Harvest also made out as the drawing for Joola Ben Johns Hyperion Premium Pickleball raised over a thousand dollars.   And the winner was -

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Pickleball- it’s the rage! People all over America are enjoying this low-impact paddle sport, while enjoying the fun, laughter, and exercise it provides. Described as a combination of ping-pong, tennis, and badminton, pickleball is simple to learn, easy on the body, lots of fun, and you don’t even have to be fit to play.

Studies have shown that pickleball is particularly beneficial for those with Parkinson’s Disease, an incurable neurological disorder involving muscle control. Since exercise is a key component in slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s, many people with the disease are turning to pickleball to help them maintain balance and mobility, better perform daily tasks, and continue to live normal, productive lives. It’s a means for these people to be active and keep going while they still can.

Several years ago, what I thought was only a minor tremor in my left hand, turned out to be the early stages of Parkinson’s. In an attempt to slow the progression of this debilitating disease, I began playing pickleball several days a week. I soon found myself laughing and having so much fun on the courts that I would often forget about my symptoms while playing.

With this disease, you have to be active and keep yourself going. Pickleball proved to be a great way for me to improve my coordination and movement, become mentally and socially active, and delay my need for Parkinson’s medication. Eight years later, I am still enjoying pickleball several days a week and continue to reap its benefits while keeping my symptoms at bay. Pickleball has changed my life!

Clinics for “Pickleball for Parkinson’s” are currently being offered at the Hillview Baptist Family Life Center at no cost. The clinics are open to anyone with Parkinson’s Disease, essential tremors, or other movement disorders. To sign up or get more information, contact Nelson Swartzentruber at truber3066@gmail.com. Pickleball can change your life!

Aiken Standard