A former tennis pro and world #1 doubles player took to the court Wednesday to benefit kids with disabilities.
Grant Connell, who held the #1 ranking as a doubles player in the early 1990s, played with other big names in tennis at the second Rally for the Kids, at Panorama Recreation Centre, Wednesday, May 9.
“We are a smaller venue but the thing is … this is something that’s quite out of the ordinary of what we do day to day. We’re very fortunate we can have a player of Grant’s quality come out,” said Eric Knoester, the racquet sports co-ordinator at Panorama who started the event last year. Grant is at “another level in terms of ability. He was a consummate professional when he was out there to get ready to play. You know what kind of dedication that takes."
Former 49th-ranked woman player, Marjorie Blackwood, is returning for the second year, along with former national champion Robert Bettauer and Island talents Roger Skillings, Tracy Frank, Art Hobbs, Ranjan MacArthur, Greg Diemer and Hannes Blum.
Like last year, the rally benefits the Power to Be Society, partly because of Knoester’s personal connection to the group.
Two years ago, he took his daughter Hannah, now 17, to Tillicum mall for her ski trip to Mount Washington. Hannah has autism talking about different and exciting activities like skiing opened up communication for the family.
A Power to Be van drove Hannah to the mountain.
“I thought, in order to do these programs they must have to raise money,” Knoester said.
Power to Be takes kids with disabilities or socio-economic barriers on outdoor adventures.
In 2011, Rally for the Kids raised $9,500 for Power to Be. This year’s goal is $12,000 to $13,000.
“Of course the whole tennis community and community as a whole got on board with the event last year,” Knoester said. “This year’s been really easy in terms of ticket sales because of what happened last year.”
The rally offers twice as many silent auction items as last year and is selling more tickets.
“We are able to accomplish more with the things that happened with last year’s event. It opened a lot of doors for us, [like] Power to Be opens doors for the kids. There’s a parallel there.”
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.