Holmes County pickleball tournament raises funds for cancer care center

Pickleball in Holmes County became a cancer fundraiser as Rally Against Cancer brought players and supporters together for a round robin benefit for the Genesis Healthcare Foundation Cancer Center. The event was held to honor and support Larry and Ann Weaver, and Ann Weaver has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The benefit carried particular weight in Holmes County, where a population of 44,223 in the 2020 Census means local events can reach deep into churches, civic groups and family networks. In a county this size, a tournament that mixes recreation with giving can spread support quickly, especially when the cause touches a local family by name.

Genesis HealthCare System, based in Zanesville, says its Cancer Care Center serves Southeastern Ohio with same-day radiology and laboratory results, an in-house pharmacy, patient navigators and wraparound care. The center says it provides personalized services from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship, with Genesis Hospital attached for more intensive inpatient care when needed.

The cancer program also says it holds accreditation from the Commission on Cancer, the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative. Those designations point to a system built around coordinated treatment, breast cancer care and oncology quality standards, which helps explain why the fundraiser was framed as more than a single-day event.

Pickleball made sense as the vehicle for the effort because it is one of the most accessible sports in the region, welcoming both experienced players and people who may not normally enter a formal charity benefit. The tournament listing asked participants to fill the courts with encouragement and hope, turning a familiar local pastime into a visible show of support for cancer care.

For Holmes County, the value of the fundraiser was practical as well as personal. Proceeds were aimed at a cancer center that supports patients and families through testing, treatment, pharmacy services and navigation, while also helping the broader network of care that comes with a cancer diagnosis. The result was a hometown event with a clear goal: use a popular sport to direct money and attention toward cancer care for families across Southeastern Ohio.