Each year, tennis enthusiasts and enemies of cancer alike gather during the depths of mud season to compete in a team setting and raise money. It is a spirited day of team-centered round robin competition. The funds come through a combination of

individual fundraising efforts, community sponsorships, a silent auction, and raffle, as well as the Byrne Foundation’s match.

Funds support innovative research and patient supportive services, which benefit the Upper Valley and beyond. The Norris Cotton Cancer Center is one of only 49 NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the US. Norris Cotton scientists pioneer ideas in the areas of immune response therapy, tumor imaging, precision medicine, and much more.

The event has been led by Mary Reynolds and supported by Dave Jones, the Boss Tennis Center's manager. Across five years of fundraising, the event has raised almost $240,000 to fight cancer. The event’s allure canvases local clubs at the River Valley Club and Storrs Pond, players from Dartmouth and Hanover High, and clubs from Burlington, Goffstown and Bedford, to name a few.

Each team is tasked with raising funds and the 2019 top fundraising team was For the Cure!, bringing in $7,570. The roster consisted of Janet Simmons, Natasha Grotz, Liz Gray, Kimbel Biele, and Karen Seltzer, the team’s captain and event’s top fundraiser, having raised $3,300 on her own.

The all-day event took place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., hosting a grueling yet fun wave of 40 round-robin-format doubles matches. The individual fundraising minimum is $125 for each flight to secure a spot at the event. The fundraising minimum must be met prior to playing. There are prizes for the top two individuals and the top two fundraising teams, encouraging participants to work together to help beat cancer.