'Aces' event supports breast-cancer research | Denver Weekly ...

by Aaron Burns

Cindy Swanson (left) and Donna Upchurch participated in the 2011 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Swanson and Upchurch are coordinating the ?Aces for Awareness? tennis tournament on July 28. (Courtesy of Cindy Swanson)

DENVER ??Cindy Swanson lost her mother-in-law to breast cancer in 2003.

She wants to make sure her husband and two children don?t have to experience the same painful loss.

Swanson and Donna Upchurch ? members of the Westport Club in Denver ? are holding the second annual women-only Aces for Awareness tennis event July 28 at Westport, 2525 Shanklin Lane S., to support breast cancer awareness.

?Since (2003) I have had an aunt, sister-in-law and a few friends diagnosed (with breast cancer),? Swanson said.

?That prompted my efforts to fight this disease. When Donna and I decided to incorporate our passion for tennis into our passion for fighting breast cancer, we knew we had something special.?

Upchurch, whose mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer, said the 2011 event was so successful ?we knew we had to make this an annual event.?

?We have over 40 players registered (as of July 6) and we?re hoping for 40 more players by the time the event starts,? Upchurch said. ?Knowing the disease is hereditary I feel like I?m a (possible) candidate. I would like to find a cure.?

Upchurch said the tennis event serves one main purpose: it costs $1,800 per person to participate in the Charlotte Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Oct. 27-28, so the tournament at Westport enables the pair to raise money for their team.

?In this economy, it?s not easy to raise that kind of money,? Swanson said. ?Our tennis event is designed to help us raise money to enter the walk.?

But Swanson said the tournament is more than just a fundraiser.

?It?s a day filled with women banding together for a greater cause: laughing, eating, playing tennis and enjoying each other?s company,? Swanson said.

?Now we just have to hope the rain holds off and it isn?t 100 degrees that day.?

Swanson said she thinks as many as 100 players could take part.

Registration costs $35. The tournament begins at 11 a.m. for the first two of five total groups. Warm-ups for those groups are at 10 a.m. The other three groups warm up at 3 p.m. for a 4:15 start.

Music, food and drinks are available all day. There?s also a professional tennis exhibition from 2:30-3:30 p.m. between the first and second rounds of the tournament. An all-day raffle that includes a four-day, three-night vacation to Hilton Head Island, S.C., is also on the schedule.

All donations from the event go to the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation.

Upchurch and Swanson are still looking for more volunteers and sponsors to meet the $1,800 goal.

Want to help?

Visit www.avonwalk.org/goto/acesforawareness or email Upchurch at donnaupchurch@charter.net for more information.

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Source: http://denverncweekly.com/news/2012/07/%E2%80%98aces%E2%80%99-event-supports-breast-cancer-research/

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