Sarnia Pathways Center serving up pickleball fundraiser

Pickleball is something new on the fundraising menu this year for Sarnia’s Pathways Health Center for Children.

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Registration closes Wednesday for Pickleball for Pathways, a Saturday fundraising tournament at Lambton College.

Information is available at pathwayscentre.org/pickleball-for-pathways/.

Pathways, which turns 50 this year, provides therapy and other services for children and youth with physical, developmental and communication needs. It receives government funding, but also counts on fundraising and donations to meet local service needs.

“This is our very first venture into pickleball,” said Marcy Draker, the agency’s special events lead, though they recently received a Donation from a fall Sarnia Golf and Curling Club pickleball event.

Pathways chief executive Alison Morrison suggested the agency host a pickleball event when staff were seeking ways to celebrate the anniversary, Draker said.

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“We have some very fantastic staff members who are also pickleball enthusiasts who have been kind enough to come and lend a hand” with planning the tourney, which starts at 9 am and includes women’s, men’s and mixed divisions.

“Right now, our numbers are looking really good for having a full day of pickleball at Lambton College,” Draker said. “We’ll be using both gyms that day.”

The anniversary year will feature Pathways’ annual fundraisers and special events.

“We’re going to be spending some time every month raising money and awareness for the center’s 50 years of service,” Draker said.

After this weekend’s event, next up is the annual Bench Press Give the Kids a Lift fundraiser at Ironworks on March 22. It raised $25,500 last year, Draker said.

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A Sarnia Sting benefit golf tournament returns this year, after two previous attempts were thwarted by weather.

“We’re going to give it a shot again,” in July at the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club, Draker said. “Fingers and toes crossed.”

The first attempt coincided with a July 2023 downburst that downed many trees at the golf course and in several city neighborhoods. “We got half a day of golf in” before participants sheltered from the heavy weather in the golf club, she said.

Last year’s tournament was called off after heavy rain flooded the course, Draker said.

Sarnia Street Machines annual events with Pathways, Cruise in the Park in June, and Hot Nights, Cool Cars in August, will return this year.

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