Playing pickleball in Long Beach for more than just fun

Each year in the United States, there are about 240,000 breast cancer cases in women and 2,100 in men. The disease has hit one local woman hard, and she’s doing something about it.

Joanne Ameruoso was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Valley Stream before settling in Merrick with her family. Several cancers run on both sides of her family, including breast cancer. The BRCA genes, which put women at a much higher risk for developing the disease, were not found in her genetic makeup.

Her mother, Mary Jane, died of breast cancer in 2014, at 73. Reflecting on her loss, Ameruoso realized much of her own health mimicked her mother’s.

She opted to undergo a preventive double mastectomy at 48 — and learned that she had Lynch syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder that puts those who have it at risk for several cancers, including stomach, colon, liver, brain, skin and endometrial cancer.

“Losing my mom in a very traumatic way, I became proactive for myself to take preventative measures to avoid breast cancer,” she said, “and was doing so we knew that we had to find genetics that were streaming down my family, because there was nobody BRCA positive in my family. So I had genetic testing done to find out that I was predisposed to Lynch syndrome and, being proactive, I had my mastectomy.”

She wants to bring more awareness to the disease, and also raise money for its research. To do so, she’s planning a special night in Long Beach, bringing people together with a racket and a ball.

Ameruoso is hosting “Pickleball for a Cause” at the Long Beach Tennis Center, 899 Monroe Blvd., on March 15.

Ameruoso loved playing tennis. However, she has a slight issue in her wrist from her surgeries. Her doctor told her she shouldn’t play tennis anymore because of them. So, she stepped into the world of pickleball. She’s bringing this newer aspect of her life to all community members, with the hope of bringing awareness — and a little fun — while doing it.

“When you get on the court, we’ll play all ages and all levels,” she said. “The advanced players will all be on one side of the court. Sometimes someone you’re playing could be a little slower and then other times you go ‘oh, hey, I better watch out!’”

It will cost $40 per person to participate in the meaningful pickleball tournament. There will be refreshments and a 50/50 raffle. Those not interested in playing can also donate through Venmo, by sending money to @Joanne-Ameruoso. You can also contact Ameruoso by calling her at (516) 605-7956 or emailing her at JoFaithOverFear@aol.com.

All proceeds will go to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It is her first such event, and she hopes to host more in the near future.

“What I’m trying to do is explain to women, and men, — men are not excluded from this — your genetics. I think we focus so much on BRCA, but no, it’s your genetics. That’s what I’m truly reaching for, and to just be a constant advocate for yourself. Don’t ignore this because it’s real.”

Ameruoso has been traveling as a motivational speaker on the topic, speaking at the U.N., representing the American Cancer Society, and has been on the Catholic Faith Network. She also wrote a memoir, “Faith Over Fear: How my mom’s fear of breast cancer became my fight,” detailing her experiences.