HAMPDEN, Maine (WABI) – The 5th annual Lady Sienna Pickleball Classic tournament took place at the Armstrong Tennis Center this past weekend. The event helps to benefit Lint Rollers and Lemonade, a non-profit that assists Maine families in dealing with serious medical issues.
“We’ve raised over $60,000 and so far, we’ve donated $30,000 back of that to children and families, 30 families directly and then dozens of others through Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Lafayette Cancer Center,” says Martha Ward, board secretary of Lint Rollers and Lemonade.
Both the tournament and the non-profit were created in honor of Sienna White Probert who died at age 17 after battling cancer in 2018. Friends of Sienna and her family say the event has helped in keeping her memory alive.
“I was fortunate enough to know Sienna from the day she was born until the day she that she passed away,” says Ward, “she was part of our family, and she was like a cousin to our children.”
“Me and Sienna’s dad coached basketball together for the kids, and my younger daughter played with her. Me and him have been friends for about 20 years now,” says Nate Ellis, who participated in the tournament.
Organizers say the event sees Sienna’s family members travel from all over to help make the event possible.
“Her mom has been instrumental in this thing happening even as her brother coming from Michigan to join the same every year it’s been a wonderful experience,” says Dean Armstrong, who has been giving the tournament venue space to Lint Rollers and Lemonade for the last five years.
Participants say the event has allowed affected to connect with each other, for a weekend of both bonding and friendly competition.
“Our dad had lung cancer last year and just had part of his lung removed not even a year ago. He’s out playing, not even a year later, and it’s just a great opportunity to get to play with my dad,” says Amanda Turcotte, who teamed with her father at the tournament.
“This event helps people that don’t have that kind of backing that I had and knowing what to expect going in. They know they’re not on their own. They know that they can get through this. It’s a tough battle,” says Ellis.