Pickleball enthusiast Elaine Shallcross has recently demonstrated her generous spirit by making a donation of £620 (US$800) to the charity ELHT&Me, which supports the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in the North of England.
A Special Place In Her Heart
The funds will be directed towards the Royal Blackburn Chemotherapy Unit, a cause that holds a special place in Elaine’s heart.
Elaine’s connection with pickleball began during a winter vacation in Thailand back in 2014. Upon returning to Lancashire, she took the initiative to introduce pickleball to her local community and established a group at St Peter’s Sports Centre in Burnley, catering to individuals over the age of 50.
As pickleball’s popularity soared in the region, it led to the formation of the North West Association of Pickleball. Furthermore, the establishment of Pickleball England three years ago has resulted in over 40 clubs and groups conducting more than 100 sessions per week across the country.
Royal Recognition
Royal recognition for her outstanding contributions to the sport was next, and Elaine was honored with the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List.
Elaine’s life took an unexpected turn when she received a devastating diagnosis of breast cancer during a routine mammogram appointment in October 2019.
Great to have Elaine Shallcross with us this evening to give our members a taster session of Pickle Ball –
— Markland Hill Racquets Club (@MHRacquetsClub) February 11, 2022
If your interested in giving pickle ball a go drop us a message 😄 @PickleballCentr pic.twitter.com/Jjt3tnNBGD
Despite the challenges she faced, Elaine found solace and strength in pickleball, describing it as “an incredible distraction and a true lifeline” during her recovery. The sport played a vital role in renewing her optimism and providing her with the resilience needed to navigate through her battle with cancer.
A Truly Inspiring Individual
Demi Houghton, Digital Fundraising Officer at ELHT&Me, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Elaine.
“She is a truly inspiring individual for so many reasons and we are grateful for her support of Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital’s chemotherapy unit which will enable their service to go above the NHS funding to enhance the experience for patients on a similar journey to Elaine.”
If you wish to find out more about pickleball, please contact Elaine at [email protected].
Sessions are held all over East Lancashire in Clitheroe, Burnley, Pendle, Mellor, Longridge, Preston, and Chorley.
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