The Rockville Centre-based Mary Ruchalski Foundation welcomed more than 150 pickleball enthusiasts to Pickleball Prime in Mineola for its inaugural pickleball tournament, raising thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer awareness while introducing a new community of supporters to the foundation’s mission.
The June 14 fundraiser was made possible through the support of Pickleball Prime owners the Regan and Coghlan families. The facility donated the use of its courts, provided instructors, helped organize raffles and played a key role in launching the tournament.
“They were so generous with their time in helping us kick off this event,” said Carol Ruchalski, the foundation’s co-founder and Mary’s mother. “We’re so grateful to them. They were really instrumental.”
About 150 players from across Long Island participated, with some traveling from as far as East Setauket.
The tournament introduced many participants to the foundation’s work while expanding its reach beyond its traditional base of supporters.
Throughout the day, participants learned about the foundation’s mission and the legacy of Mary Ruchalski, whose memory continues to inspire the organization’s efforts to support children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
“My favorite part was just meeting all these people and telling Mary’s story,” Ruchalski said. “Telling them about our foundation.”
One of the day’s highlights came through conversations with participants who shared their own experiences with childhood cancer, creating meaningful connections while reinforcing the importance of the foundation’s mission.
Each participant received a lantern as part of the foundation’s annual Light the Way Lantern Campaign, along with a gold awareness ribbon to display during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. Ruchalski said she hopes the lanterns will help spread awareness throughout communities across Long Island.
The tournament also featured raffle prizes and is estimated to have raised several thousand dollars to support the foundation’s programs and awareness efforts. Beyond its fundraising success, the inaugural event introduced the organization’s mission to a broader audience.
The tournament marked the first major fundraiser organized by the foundation’s next generation of leadership. Ruchalski’s daughter, Lindsay Ruchalski-Robinson, and her husband, Stephen Robinson, chaired the event and oversaw its planning and execution.
“That’s the first event that they’ve chaired and run,” Ruchalski said. “I think, right out of the gate, they did a great job.”
Following the tournament’s success, the foundation hopes to hold another pickleball event in January and expand the competition by offering multiple tournament dates during the winter season.
For more information, visit TheMaryRuchalskiFoundation.org.
