The Cancer Challenge filled up Bella Vista's amenities Friday, from golf courses to the shooting range to tennis courts, the non-profit's three day sporting event is in full swing.
Participants are donating their time and money to the non-profit which spent the last 19 years working to improve cancer care and treatment in Northwest Arkansas.
Paul Pautsch, Bella Vista's director of tennis, donates the courts for the event.
"My mother and father both passed away of cancer, I have a brother that has cancer," Pautsch says. "It just gives me a way to contribute to the cause."
The Cancer Challenge raised $100,000 in 1994, this year the non-profit is aiming for $650,000.
"Every year it gets more important," Pautsch says. "I'm getting older and the chances of me getting cancer have got to be pretty good, because of my family my history."
At 70 years old, Tina Brandt still enjoys hitting the court.
"My husband plays too so it's something we can do together," she says.
The couple joined 166 other hopefuls on Friday for the tournament.
"It's for a good cause," she says. "I don't think I've met anyone that cancer hasn't touched in some way."
Brandt barely escaped the disease herself, doctors discovered calcium clusters during a mammogram six years ago.
"If they hadn't found it, it would have been cancer," she says. "Screening is extremely important, I go every year."
She hopes her participation will make early detection more common.
"There's so many people who feel they can't afford to go in for a checkup," she says. "This money helps."
The challenge continues with a running event Saturday morning in Bentonville. For more information, visit the Cancer Challenge's website.
Participants are donating their time and money to the non-profit which spent the last 19 years working to improve cancer care and treatment in Northwest Arkansas.
Paul Pautsch, Bella Vista's director of tennis, donates the courts for the event.
"My mother and father both passed away of cancer, I have a brother that has cancer," Pautsch says. "It just gives me a way to contribute to the cause."
The Cancer Challenge raised $100,000 in 1994, this year the non-profit is aiming for $650,000.
"Every year it gets more important," Pautsch says. "I'm getting older and the chances of me getting cancer have got to be pretty good, because of my family my history."
At 70 years old, Tina Brandt still enjoys hitting the court.
"My husband plays too so it's something we can do together," she says.
The couple joined 166 other hopefuls on Friday for the tournament.
"It's for a good cause," she says. "I don't think I've met anyone that cancer hasn't touched in some way."
Brandt barely escaped the disease herself, doctors discovered calcium clusters during a mammogram six years ago.
"If they hadn't found it, it would have been cancer," she says. "Screening is extremely important, I go every year."
She hopes her participation will make early detection more common.
"There's so many people who feel they can't afford to go in for a checkup," she says. "This money helps."
The challenge continues with a running event Saturday morning in Bentonville. For more information, visit the Cancer Challenge's website.
