What began as just an idea to bring pickleball to Special Olympics Massachusetts has grown into a full day pickleball tournament and community event. After planning this event for nearly nine months, Special Olympics MA Board of Directors member Gale Murray and the Andover community is ready to offer a fun day for athletes, Unified partners and families, regardless of ability. The Andover Unified Pickleball Classic is taking place on Saturday, July 22 at Recreation Park in Andover, MA.

Why pickleball? The sport is popping up across the country, and Special Olympics MA can't wait to get in on the action! Gale was fascinated with the growing popularity of pickleball and wanted to learn more about the sport.

"This past winter, my husband and I took a course with Andover Recreation where we had 13 sessions of 'skills and drills' and we fell in love with it" she said. ''It's great exercise and it's so social. It's a wonderful thing post COVID because it's such a social sport."

Gale knew that she wanted to bring pickleball to Special Olympics MA and thought the community level was a great place to start.

"I had read an article that Andover Rec had just built courts last year, so I thought maybe I could rent them or that there was some way we could do it right in my own community," said Gale.

But what she didn't expect was the tremendous amount of support that started rolling in from the community.

"Andover Rec was so excited about doing this with us," she said. ''I was thrilled to have that kind of support and interest. It all seemed to be falling together so well."

The tournament features round robin play with 40 teams (80 players) made up of Special Olympics MA athletes and Unified partners. Each team will pair one athlete with a Unified partner prior to the tournament (and rumor has it USA Games gold medalist Tyler Lagasse will be showing off his skills on the court)!

The day kicks off at 8:00 AM with tournament registration, which is quickly followed by a warm-up and stretch session put on by Harmeling Physical Therapy. Also present at the beginning of the day will be the tournament's iced coffee and tea sponsor, Crack'd Kitchen, a local restaurant that has a core value of giving back to the community. Later in the afternoon there will be music and food trucks and tentatively Oak & Iron brewery that hopes to set up a family friendly beer garden pending final approval from the town.

"Our goal was to build this into a community day. There's a tournament, but there are a lot of other things for spectators to do," said Gale. ''I am also starting to work on getting a raffle together so we can be selling raffle tickets that day with items from key organizations in the community."

In addition to sponsoring the event through in-kind donations, other companies in the community are getting creative with how they are showing support to the event. Whirlaway Golf Shop is one of the biggest family-owned sports stores in Methuen, and it is putting on a donation week leading up to the tournament for Special Olympics MA, which will run from July 14th to July 21st. Whirlaway golf will also be donating a percent of all sales purchased with the code SOMA23 to Special Olympics MA.

"It takes a village and everybody is involved in so many different ways," said Gale.

''When planning a fundraising event like this, you just have to get started, pick up the phone and start calling people and making the outreach. You'll find that you will get a great deal of support."

With registration, local company and community sponsorships, along with a day-of raffle, the event hopes to bring in $5,000 for Special Olympics Massachusetts.

"When you find something that you enjoy and are passionate about and you feel like your community is passionate about it, and align that with your joy and desire to support Special Olympics...you have a magic combination to make it happen," said Gale.

‍If you would like to make a donation of any size to the Andover Unified Pickleball Classic, click here.