Battle for the BRIGHT Run Charity Crowns 

Saturday, September 12th, 2026

In partnership with Gretzky Pickleball Club, Hamilton, Ontario 

Every year, on the second Saturday in September, Hamilton's BRIGHT Run charity gives breast cancer a solid kick in the ass through their annual running/walking event that attracts thousands to a local Hamilton park. Last year PickleballChicks decided that we could pitch in, not by running the race, but by hitting the pickleball courts! 

Why does PickleballChicks host a BRIGHT Run pickleball event?

Oh that's easy. This wicked disease touches every PickleballChick we know in some way.  Whether it’s a sister, a court mate, a mother, a friend, an aunt, a co-worker or a daughter, our players know this disease and they arrive at the courts ready to have fun and raise funds to crush breast cancer into the ground. 

The BRIGHT Run is a bit more special to us because Hamilton is the Canadian hometown of PickleballChicks. Over the past 2 years we've raised over $6,000 for breast cancer support and research in many different US and Canadian cities - but girlfriend, this event hits even harder because the Hammer is home and when breast cancer f*cks with one of our hometown girls, we hit back hard by rallying the troops and donating as much as we can. 

Is this event for you?

If you're into having a lot of fun on the courts and raising a lot of funds for breast cancer research, than this pickleball event is for you. If you're hunting for medals, can't keep your cool on the courts or are looking to demolish your opponents by taking advantage of every pop up you see, please sit this one out girlfriend lol. 

Note: 

There will be different skill levels on the courts, from "oooh hotshot" to "ohh not so hotshot" and everyone registers solo and rotates partners.  So... if you're cool playing side by side with either a hot or not player, keep reading, we'd LOVE to have you on our courts, kicking cancer's ass on Saturday September 12th in one or both of our sessions:

Session One: All Chicks Round Robin 11am - 1:30pm

• Register solo. Make new friends every game.
• Rotate partners throughout our fun, organized round-robin format that's designed to keep the games moving and the vibes high.
• Expect friendly games, new faces, prizes, cheering and a fabulous group of Chicks showing up to raise critical research money that can change lives.
• Prizes and medals will be awarded.

Skill Level: Intermediate-ish

This session is designed for Chicks who:

• Know how to keep the ball in play, understand the game and have a few skills tucked inside that paddle bag.
• Understand that this is a Charity Tournament where fun, fabulous Chicks are hitting the court to make a difference.

Higher skilled players are welcome, provided you can play nice, keep the rally going and embrace the spirit of a charity tournament.

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Session Two: Chicks and Sidekicks (Guys welcome) 2pm - 4:30pm

For this session, we’re doing something we rarely do -- we're welcoming the guys onto the court!

• Dinking-only round-robin
• No drives. No slams. Every point is played at the kitchen line
• Register solo
• Rotate partners through an organized round robin with timed games
• Prizes and medals will be awarded.

Note that every game will not be mixed doubles (some may be same-gender) unless the math-gods line up perfectly. 

Skill Level: Intermediate-ish

This session is designed for Intermediate players.  It's a perfect fit for players who:

• Know how to dink, keep the ball in play and understand the game
• Can enjoy friendly competition without turning a charity tournament into the PPA finals
• Are ready to play with finesse and rally for an important cause

Higher skilled players are welcome, provided you can play nice, keep the rally going and embrace the spirit of a charity tournament.

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The Cause, the Cash, Sponsors and More...

100% of proceeds after tournament costs will be donated to support The BRIGHT Run and the breast cancer research being done at Juravinski Cancer Centre.

Our team at PickleballChicks is donating all the Chick-Powered administration and logistics required. Our tournament partner, The Gretzky Pickleball Club, along with our sponsor, Winterberry Physiotherapy Clinic, are bringing us the courts at no charge. This will help us reach our goal and give as much as we can! 

We are always looking for sponsors to provide prizes and donations. If you're interested in doing good, get in touch with us at hello@pickleballchicks.org

NO REFUNDS. If your plans change or you need to cancel for any reason, your registration will be donated and another player will take your place. 

Ready to have fun and raise funds?

Choose your session, register and join us.

Want to compete in BOTH sessions? We LOVE you! You'll need to register for one session, then start a new registration for the second session. 

Got questions? We have answers! Just shoot a note to: hello@pickleballchicks.org