News & Blog

On May 3rd, the Dill Dinkers community in St. Petersburg, Florida showed up — and showed out — for breast cancer prevention.

By 9:00 am, players of all ages and backgrounds had their game faces on, ready to compete across women’s only, mixed intermediary, and mixed advanced round robin tournaments. But from the very first match, it was clear this day was about something bigger than pickleball. A sea of pink stretched across the facility — custom t-shirts generously provided by the Dill Dinkers team mingling with pink outfits players had brought from home — and the energy that filled the courts was electric. The kind that only comes from doing something you love in service of something that matters.

Throughout the day, players competed with real intensity and real joy. Between matches, conversations flowed — including several that stopped our ABCF team in our tracks. 

Our Development Manager, Vincent Bencomo, had the privilege of speaking with breast cancer survivors who came out to play, to connect, and to share why prevention means so much to them personally. Their stories were a powerful reminder of exactly why events like this one exist.

“What struck me most, though, came at the very end. As the day wound down around 3pm and the final victors were crowned, we gathered for a raffle — an intimate group of 10 or 12 people. In that smaller setting, something became beautifully clear: the closeness of this community. Playful jabs at the winners, pats on the back, genuine laughter filling the room. Win or lose on the courts, no one left disappointed. Just happy to have been there, surrounded by people they care about, knowing they have made a positive impact ” said Vincent. 

To us, that moment captured everything Pickleball for Prevention is meant to be — proof that in the face of breast cancer, we can laugh, live fully, and work together in solidarity to make sure others have access to the resources they need to keep making memories of their own.

To the entire Dill Dinkers of St. Pete community and everyone who came out: thank you. It was an unforgettable day, and we were honored to be part of it. 

Bring Pickleball for Prevention to Your Community

Inspired by what Dill Dinkers built? You can do the same! 

Whether you’re a club organizer, a casual player with a passionate network, or someone who simply wants to turn court time into community impact, our Pickleball for Prevention initiative makes it possible to host your own fundraiser — rallying your people around early detection, equitable access, and the screenings that save lives.

Visit our Pickleball for Prevention page to start your own fundraiser, or reach out directly at hello@abcf.org. We’d love to help you bring your own Pickleball for Prevention fundraiser to life.