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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2025 | 55 The big news this month is the 2025 Sun Lakes Country Club Charity Pickleball Tournament. Members and friends, mark your calendars for Friday morning, June 6. Club President Tony Browne has been hard at work with his committee organizing volunteers for the many tasks that make for a successful event. We are soliciting sponsors, arranging donations for raff les and refreshments, and working with Master Board member Beverly Simmons and her able helpers to assure that our club's event dovetails with the many other community-wide activities that make up Charity Week. Pat Carter and Steve Martin have generously agreed to be the overseers of the registration and competition, setting brackets and managing the f low of games on the 6th. Because this week is all about raising money for local charities, each year we try to maximize participation from neighboring communities and pickleball clubs. All are welcome, as space allows, so tell your family and friends to come on out. The details of the age divisions are still being worked out as of press time. By the time this edition of Lifestyles hits the streets, f liers will be circulated with all the specifics. The important thing to remember is that whether you play or not, the morning will be festive, so come out and support this signature event for our entire resort. Pickleball is renowned for being accessible to all ages and skill levels. Now it is expanding accessibility to wheelchair users. In the last two years Adaptive Pickleball has been growing and was included at last November's National Championships at Mesa, AZ. Taylor Nichols won the medals and has been the spark plug for this expansion of the sport. Paralyzed below the chest at age 26, Taylor went on a date to Chicken N Pickle, a growing chain of pickleball-oriented restaurants. Inspired, he began to explore the possibilities and has gone on to become the national face of wheelchair pickleball. After two years learning to play, Taylor now is the "national adaptive pickleball coordinator" for the chain and a great ambassador for our sport. If you aren't familiar, check out the videos available online. The main adaptation is allowing an extra bounce to return a shot. It's amazing how well these chair-bound athletes can play with intensity and skill. We encourage all Sun Lakers to get acquainted with America's fastest-growing sport. If you want an introduction, give club VP Judy Luna a call at (949) 929-2390. She will point you in the right direction. See you on the courts! Pickleball Club The big news this month is the 2025 Sun Lakes Country Club Charity Pickleball Tournament. Members and friends, mark your calendars for Pickleball has been growing and was included at last November's National Championships at Mesa,

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