"All the kids are special to us, but because of Faith's unique name and being our first, she is our legacy… 'Keep the Faith' is our motto."

In 2019, a group of pickleball enthusiasts organized a nonprofit — Paddling for Childhood Cancer (PFCC) — to assist one of their members financially. This family had a daughter, Eleanor, suffering from leukemia. What we learned, as many cancer families are, is that they willingly point to other families more in need of financial assistance.

That's how we were introduced to a young girl ironically named Faith. She was 5 years old at the time and diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. Tragically, she passed away that year — but it began a journey of our now-pickleball family into the lives of families needing help.

A Family Found Through Treatment

We learned that these cancer families tend to cross paths in their therapies — through their doctors, treatments, or travels — and learn about each other's situations. They not only meet on a superficial basis but, when they've been on this path for a while, mentor the newcomers to the ups and downs of children going through cancer treatments and all the multi-syllabic words they will be introduced to.

Klamath Living is a magazine that "celebrates all things Klamath Falls." It highlights families monthly, and we wanted our community to know about these families too.

How the Funds Work

The pickleball family raises funds annually to support cancer families with no strings attached. They may use them for medical bills, household expenses, or even vacations — since families are so focused on the child with cancer that other siblings often don't get the childhood most do. Many are single parents, or one parent has to quit their job to tend to the rigors of their child's treatments.

The pickleball family has since acquired 16 families and gets updates on their children — and sadly attends funerals.

How We Raise It

Annually, we raise funds by going out to local business, individual donors, and having a silent auction during our September pickleball tournament. Over the last two years, we've raised over $60,000 annually to support our cause and these families' strife.

I went into a major business here and asked them if we could display their banner. The manager said he was familiar with our program and said they would provide whatever they could. I told him that "you can only milk the same cow so much." He knew what I meant — but said, "We're a small community here, and we help each other."

A Community That Gets It

We've talked with and compared ourselves to other organizations, some in very affluent cities, that raise funds for charities. They are amazed at our city's generosity.

Melissa at the radio station KLAD, 92.5, says it best every day: "If you live here, you get it."

We are very fortunate to have friends, neighbors, or even strangers willing to give another family in need a chance to keep going.

Paddling for Childhood Cancer (PFCC) · Klamath Falls
Watch for the annual September pickleball tournament + silent auction.