Seated: Cindy Madsen, Jane Zielske, and TJ Duffy; Standing: Tina Huber and Gary Rowell.
TJ Duffy
SaddleBrooke played host to a multifaceted fundraising event for the Skin Cancer Institute (SCI) which unites The University of Arizona Cancer Center’s many skin cancer prevention and treatment endeavors. Denise Spartonos, Community Outreach Coordinator for SCI, explained, “Our mission is to prevent and cure skin cancer; in the last couple of years there have been some great advances in the treatment of melanoma, which is the more serious form of skin cancer and can be deadly.” “Patients are living longer and higher quality lives.” She went on to say, “every dollar raised stays at the Cancer Center and is used for research, patient care, and community outreach”.
The event was open to all SaddleBrooke residents as well as their guests who bid on nearly eighty donated items. Silent auctions owe their success to possessing a wide range of valuable items. Bidders eagerly perused through choices including: restaurant vouchers/gift cards from local restaurants (Bubb’s Grub, Red Lobster, Oracle Inn Steakhouse, Tavolino Restorante Italiano, Saffron Indian Bistro, Catalina Craft Pizza, Village Bake House, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Sammy’s Mexican Grill, It’s All Greek to Me, plus SaddleBrooke One, SaddleBrooke TWO, and SaddleBrooke Ranch F&B offices); automotive and golf cart services (Hardin Brothers, X-Pert Auto and Golf Cars of AZ); salon services (Stylin Hair Salon, Touch of Class Salon and Liz’s Hair Emporium); pop tennis and traditional tennis lessons from all five SaddleBrooke resident professionals; entertainment/educational tickets (UA Biosphere 2, Desert View Performing Arts and Gaslight Music Hall); plus many other tangible pieces. The SaddleBrooke community along with SCI and UA Tennis came together to pull off a winner; nearly $6,000 was raised for skin cancer research!
As if the SCI fundraiser was not enough, the UA Wildcats Women’s and Men’s Tennis Teams led head coaches Ryan Stotland and Clancy Shields, made another memorable visit to the Tennis Center. After brief comments by coach Stotland and coach Shields including player introductions by the student-athletes, the Wildcats took to Court Six for a spirited and thoroughly entertaining warmup. “We’re excited to visit the SaddleBrooke community, to let them know what we’re doing at the U of A and to let them get to know our players on an intimate level”, Clancy said.
What happened next? The Wildcats joined sixteen STC members on the courts for an hour of doubles. Even though the STC boasts a substantial number of excellent tennis players, taking the courts with Division I collegiate players sounds intimidating, if not downright scary! Not to worry, these tennis ambassadors were perfect ladies and gentlemen as they ran down tennis balls all over the courts. They were quick to applaud good shots and great effort by their STC partners as well as their opponents. Everyone, including the gallery of spectators had a fantastic day!
Event-goers enjoyed cupcakes, wraps, coffee, and hot spice cider all of which were served by STC volunteers; donations were happily offered and eagerly accepted. Additionally, donations were accepted for joining the Wildcats on the courts as well as bids on a host of excellent silent auction items.
The SaddleBrooke Tennis Club brings a dynamic quality to community events in supporting skin cancer research as well as the University of Arizona Tennis program. STC, truly dedicated to the health and enjoyment of all SaddleBrooke residents.