ANGEL FIRE FUNDRAISER

article by Brett Hall

Brett Hall, Southwest USPTA professional and former Angel Fire Tennis Director returned to Angel Fire, New

Mexico July 31, 2021 to help current Angel Fire Director Jimmy Celli with the first Smash Cancer Tennis

Fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event was a huge success with 47 tennis and pickleball participants along with another 23 supporters of the fundraiser. We raised $5,290 for LLS. Participants were treated to doubles match play with Jimmy, big group drills with Brett, and pickleball lessons and match play with Rick Hooker. Jimmy organized a great lunch along with music.

A special thanks to Brad McElroy, Pacific Northwest Head Rep and Chuck Bahn, Southwest Head Rep, for donating prizes. Brett, a nine-year leukemia survivor, gave a motivational speech on life lessons learned on his cancer journey. Fellow Southwest USPTA professionals Dick Johnson, Jim Moss, and Bo Gray assisted with the event. Special thanks to Angel Fire members Jim McGhay, Judy Proctor, Drew Maxwell, and Rick Hooker for their help. A very special thanks to Jimmy Celli for initiating and running a great event.