Inspired by her daughter Liv and a love of pickleball, Joy created an annual tournament to support Cure JM. What began as a simple idea has grown into a community-driven fundraiser now entering its third year. In the Q&A below, Joy reflects on what inspired the event, how it has evolved, and the moments that continue to stand out.
What inspired you to host a pickleball tournament for Cure JM
The idea to host a pickleball tournament came to us so naturally because we were already playing pickleball for fun, everywhere we went, there were always so many people playing. Each new venue introduced us to new people, and everyone was genuinely enjoying the game.
Livy’s fight is always on our minds, and so is raising money for Cure JM. As pickleball tournaments began popping up, it felt like the perfect fit. It was a chance to spend time with friends, meet new people, play pickleball, and support our cause, all at the same time.
How did the event go from your perspective
We are now going into our third year of running the tournament. Our first year was a bit stressful, but it ended up being an amazing experience. Our friends, family, and community came out to support Livy, our fight, and our fundraiser.
In our second year, we had lots of returning participants as well as many new faces. With music, food, and great energy, it turned into such a fun and memorable day for everyone involved. There was unfortunately another tournament in the area that had to be rescheduled for that day because of weather that kind of hurt us a bit.
What moments stood out to you or to the participants
As the tournament began, I brought all the participants together and shared a brief background on Livy’s story and Cure JM. As you know, Livy’s fight, like so many others, has been incredibly difficult. Throughout the day, participants came up to us and shared that they had no idea by looking at her now all that she had been through. Many told us how grateful they were to be there and how happy they were to support her and the cause.
