The Kosten Foundation hosted the Kick It Pickleball Tournament in June at Shadowlawn Park in Bartlett, raising over $37,000 to support pancreatic cancer research and patient support services. Sponsored by Baptist Memorial Health Care, the event attracted over 200 participants and spectators for a weekend filled with pickleball matches, community engagement, and fundraising. Attendees enjoyed competitive games, delicious food, fun giveaways from sponsors Cruise Planners and All About Bikes and had the opportunity to connect with pancreatic cancer survivors who shared their inspiring stories.

“We raised over $37,000 for pancreatic cancer research and support while having a lot of fun,” said Alan Kosten, Chairman of the Kosten Foundation. “The sport of Pickleball has grown tremendously across the country, and we thought a tournament would be a great addition to our fundraising efforts. The first fundraising event we produced was a tennis tournament, as tennis was one of my brother Herb’s favorite sports. He was a top amateur tennis player, and his battle with pancreatic cancer is the reason we started the Kosten Foundation. We are deeply thankful for the support of our sponsors, participants, and especially our tournament directors, Rick Bowers and Rick Darling, who helped make this event a success.”

The Kick It Pickleball Tournament builds on the success of the annual Kick It 5K, which raised over $160,000 for pancreatic cancer in 2023. The Kosten Foundation aims to continue this impactful legacy through the Kick It Pickleball Tournament, furthering its commitment to fighting pancreatic cancer. The 2024 Kick It 5K will take place on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

Since 2003, the Kosten Foundation has donated over $2.5 million to pancreatic cancer research. The funds from this tournament will help further these efforts and support patients and families affected by the disease.

For more information about the Kosten Foundation and its mission, visit www.kostenfoundation.com.