Sixth Year Success
by Linda Mojer

For the second year at the mile-high Denver Athletic Club, and the sixth year running, the 2005 “Racquet for the Cure” event was another huge success for pink ribbon supporters. The benefit tournament for the Susan G. Komen Foundation drew just over 70 women to the one-day special event, plus another 30 or so men to the mixed doubles fundraisers on the Friday evening kickoff. All told, the combined activities raked in another $5,000 for breast cancer research, and brought the cumulative total to over $20,000.00 in racquetball donations for the Denver-based foundation.

Coming straight from the win in Stockton that launched her into the Number One spot on the LPRA tour, Christie Van Hees began a two-week stint in the Rockies at the RFTC benefit. She and No.5 ranked Kerri Wachtel were hosted by another tour regular, Jo Shattuck, who is also the club pro at DAC. In addition to giving clinics, exhibitions and taking on local challengers-for-cash, the three pros competed in their own mini-division, with an unusual playoff. Opting for a fun finish, the finalists played left-handed for the “title”, with Wachtel taking a narrow win over Van Hees in an entertaining tiebreaker. [Photo L-R: Wachtel, Shattuck & Van Hees].

After fighting rush-hour traffic, local teams enjoyed several hours of fast-paced round-robin action in Open, A and B mixed doubles divisions on Friday evening. Hard-fought winners in those rounds were Linda Mojer & Eddie Meredith in the Open, Lisa Rousseau & Bob Taylor in the A’s and Betty Brown & Rich Owens in the B's.

To close out the evening, the main event featured Van Hees and Wachtel taking on all challengers – alone and as a team -- for cash donations from the crowd. Players put up $50 for the court time, chose their opponent, and were able to earn back a portion of their donation for each point they scored. The special event included a tough 2-on-1 battle between the ladies and local Men’s Open player John Rhodes, who gave it his best, but lost the face-off 9-6. With dollars on the line against David Guentert in a singles match, Van Hees gunned it to take a donut win. “I had to do it … it was for charity” she shrugged. The good-natured Guentert recovered and rustled up a partner in Jo Shattuck to take on both pros in a doubles match, but still ended up making a donation. [Photo L-R: Van Hees and Wachtel, off-handed].

In addition to the fundraising, players were treated to a mid-day clinic by Derek Robinson on Saturday, which was scheduled between multiple rounds of team playoffs among the ladies. Each entrant had been assigned to a full squad of skill-ranked players in singles and doubles and was issued a colored bandana to identify her to her teammates. The fun began bright and early, continuing through the day in drop-down after drop-down, right up to the awards banquet that evening in DAC’s grand ballroom. There, the women were exhausted, but still had enough strength to make last-minute bids on silent auction items and to accept their “everybody wins something” awards from the bulging prize tables.

Tournament organizer Jean Gallagher, who has chaired the committee for four years, recalled the first RFC banquet she’d put together at a local restaurant – where she delivered her remarks balanced on two chairs behind a pool table covered with prizes. This year, from a podium with a real microphone and a slide show by Shelly Stetler projected in the background, Jean was grateful for the “evolution” of Racquet for the Cure. The LPRA pros were touched by the cause and gracious in their remarks, promising to return. Survivor Becky Haddad, representing the Susan G. Komen Foundation, shared her insights and inspiration about the fight against a disease that touches millions of women and their families. Jean closed by expressing her joy at being able to do two of her favorite things at once: play racquetball and do good work for a good cause.

Thanks to corporate support from Wilson (a company that supports a number of breast cancer fundraisers) and DAC CEO Andre van Hall (pictured with Jo Shattuck at left), plus in-kind donations from local businessmen Craig McBride and Bill Lloyd, the tournament was able to reach its goals. From frequent flyer mile donations by Cheryl Owens and Greg Keys (for the pros travel) … to efficient desk and venue management by Bruce Burgess and Jo Shattuck … to slaving in a hot kitchen by April Settell … to hauling supplies by lucky Suburban-owner Steve Nelson … to signage by Ann Schramm … to hours of planning and fundraising by committee members Vickie Dykstra, Kathy Martinez, Linda Mojer and Marcia Richards … the sixth annual event was another success. On behalf of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, we thank everyone who picked up their Racquet for the Cure!

Top-ranked athletes from both pro tours (the Ladies Professional Racquetball Association [LPRA] and International Racquetball Tour [IRT]) will make guest appearances to support the event. Canada's Christie Van Hees (LPRA No.2), Kerri Wachtel of Cincinnati, Ohio (LPRA No.4), and Denver's own Derek Robinson (IRT No.8) will be on hand to conduct clinics and take on challengers in special play-the-pro fundraisers.

The Denver Athletic Club's own head pro, Johanna Shattuck, is currently ranked No.12 on tour, and will lend both her on-court expertise and tournament direction to the tournament. Shattuck is a certified clinician and teaching pro who brought the event to DAC for the second straight year. Long-time RFC organizers Jean Gallagher and Marcia Richards also serve on the Colorado Racquetball Association Board of Directors, and are involved in managing sanctioned events statewide.

A Mixed Doubles benefit will kick off the event at 5:00 pm on Friday evening, followed by challenge fundraisers at 7:00 pm. All-day round-robin women's competition in singles and doubles team play will continue on Saturday, capped by a silent auction and banquet that evening.

For more information, or to schedule interviews with the pros, please contact event organizer Jean Gallagher at 720-244-7654 or 303-738-9797.