Lyons Pickleball Tournament Raises Funds for Diabetes Research

Lyons Pickleball Club is using its May tournament to do more than fill courts. The club’s doubles round robin on Saturday, May 23, will send a portion of proceeds to the MB Riders Chase-ing the Cure team, giving local players a direct way to back the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure Finger Lakes campaign.

Susan and Glenn Everdyke organized the fundraiser after more than a decade riding with the MB Riders Chase-ing the Cure team. Their connection to the cause is personal and immediate: Susan’s father died from diabetes complications, Glenn’s daughter has diabetes, and the family has already helped raise more than $25,000 for the ADA over the years. That history gives the tournament a clear purpose, turning a familiar pickleball format into a community fundraiser built around diabetes research and awareness.

The event is structured like a standard local competition, which is part of its appeal. Women’s division play is scheduled for the morning, men’s division for the afternoon, and players must register with a partner. The entry fee is $35 per player, and registration runs through Friday, May 15. Players and spectators must be at least 16 years old. Medals will go to the top three teams, and snacks will be provided for players.

Lyons Pickleball Club lists the venue as the Geneva High School outdoor pickleball courts, 101 Carter Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, with a rain date set for Sunday, May 24. The tournament is designed to be accessible, social and useful at the same time, a model other clubs can copy when they want a casual pickleball day to carry a stronger charitable mission.

The beneficiary team, MB Riders Chase-ing the Cure, says it is small but mighty and is riding in honor of friends and family members, especially Mary Beth and Chase. The team has set a 2026 fundraising goal of $10,000 for the ADA’s Tour de Cure: Finger Lakes Event, scheduled for Saturday, June 6, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT at Stokoe Farms in Scottsville.

The scale of the regional ride shows why even one club tournament matters. In 2025, more than 350 riders gathered in Scottsville and raised nearly $300,000 for diabetes research, education and advocacy. Lyons is adding a grassroots pickleball lane to that larger effort, and it is a playbook other retreats and clubs can follow: pick a cause, set a date, keep the format simple, and connect every match to a concrete fundraising target.