Pickleball players raise funds for critically ill children

Hundreds of local pickleball players and spectators came out to the second annual Casey Cares Serve Up Smiles pickleball tournament Feb. 1 at Country Club East.

Casey Cares was founded in 2000 by Casey Baynes when she realized that many similar nonprofit organizations helped kids with cancer, while others with other health issues were left without that same aid.

“It started by hearing one child who wished he had cancer,” said Baynes, the founder and executive director. “This little boy wished he had cancer so he could get cool stuff, too. It was at that moment when I realized that he didn’t want cancer, he wanted someone to wrap their arms around him and say, ‘We got you, dude. We’re here for you and we’re going to help you and your family through this.’

“There’s so many great resources out there for kids with cancer, and there should be, but think about all of the other children who are dealing with cystic fibrosis, organ transplants, rare blood disorders and even undiagnosed patients. Casey Cares is there to help them, not once in a lifetime, but continuously throughout their treatment.”

Casey Cares has helped bring some joy to over 1,600 critically ill children and their families. 

The organization provides tickets to events like sports games, concerts, live shows, museums and more, along with providing some day-to-day fun like pajama, popcorn and pizza parties and birthday surprises. 

Chris Neher Jr., 17, is a Casey Cares teen with cystic fibrosis who competed in the pickleball tournament alongside his father, Chris Neher Sr.

Neher Jr. said he has been to a Tampa Bay Rays game, a Baltimore Orioles Spring Training game, and has had some fun evenings at home with the help of Casey Cares, but his favorite memory was Feb. 1.

“I used to play pickleball every day,” Neher Jr. said. “I took a little break, but I’m getting back into it.”

Competitors only had bragging rights and medals on the line, but food and beverages were provided along with a silent auction, a raffle giveaway, local vendors, and the ability to buy mulligans – erasing a point lost – in tournament play.

“Whatever these families need, whatever they want, we’re there to support them and provide that hope,” Baynes said. “Unfortunately, a lot of these families have to cram a lifetime worth of memories into a few short years, but we’re there to do it.”