Albuquerque Charity Pickleball Tournament Aims to Raise Funds for Caribbean Cancer Care

A one-day pickleball tournament this Saturday stands to send another round of funding to cancer and diabetes programs in the Caribbean. "Doubles for Dollars," organized by Albuquerque cancer physician Dr. Annette Fontaine, will take place at Manzano Mesa Pickleball Courts on April 11, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with men's, women's, and mixed doubles open to players at every skill level.

The $35-per-player entry fee will support screening, prevention, and treatment programs in Dominica. Raffle prizes, including a trip to Mexico, round out the day's fundraising. Dr. Fontaine has assembled a coalition of three partners for the event: the Dominican Health Initiative, the New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation, and the Albuquerque Pickleball Club.

The precedent is already on record. Last year's tournament raised more than $13,000, benefiting the Dominica Cancer Society and the Dominica Diabetes Association. That total reflects a strong pull from Albuquerque's pickleball community, and organizers are aiming to build on it this weekend.

Dr. Fontaine's dual role as the event's architect and a practicing cancer physician gives "Doubles for Dollars" a credibility that most charity tournaments lack. Her clinical background ties the action on the courts directly to the diagnostic and treatment gaps in Dominica, where access to oncology infrastructure remains a persistent challenge.

Organizers have framed the tournament as proof that local communities can "come together through sport to support better health outcomes beyond our borders." At Manzano Mesa on Saturday, that plays out in a concrete format: three doubles draws, no rating barrier to entry, and a $35 investment that travels thousands of miles to fund Caribbean health programs.