StemCell Therapy

Michael Rosenkrantz, Special to The Desert Sun Published 7:54 a.m. PT Jan. 10, 2020

Wheelchair tennis was founded in 1976 by USTA honoreeBrad Parks and Jeff Minnenbraker, both wheelchair athletes.(Photo: Courtesy Desert Ability Center)

Todd Hanover, Anthony Lara, Tom Ayala, Dana Mailloux, Sergio Naduville, Jessica Hillier-Davidsonand David Buck.None of these athletes are household names, but they are accomplished in the world of wheelchair tennis.

Wheelchair tennis was founded in 1976 by USTA honoreeBrad Parks and Jeff Minnenbraker, both wheelchair athletes, and is played on any regulation-sized tennis court with no modifications in equipment. The only difference in rules is that players are allowed two bounces of the ball before it has to be returned.

On Jan.26, Desert Ability Center (DAC), the premiere adaptive sports organization in the Coachella Valley, along with JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa and Peter Burwash International (PBI) Tennis will be hosting its first annual Up/Down Doubles Tennis Tournamentfundraiser.Thetournament will feature doubles teams consisting of one wheelchair tennis player and one able-bodied or stand up player:hence, one up, one down.

This unique tournament will help Desert Ability Center raise funds for adaptive sports programs.DAC is looking for able-bodied tennis players of any skill level to team up with wheelchair athletes.

The tournament at the Marriott, which is open to the public, will start at 12:30 with the incredible PBI Tennis Show, which has been performed in 99 countries.A wheelchair celebrity match begins at 1:30 with "Shes a Gamer" host Cristina Walters of Radio 1010 and with her colleague Geoff Bloom.

Joining Walters and Bloom will be Ron DiGrande of the SoCal Coyotes.DAC is hoping to add a few more celebrities to the event;all will compete in wheelchairs with some of Desert Ability Centers athletes.

The main event will be a round robin tournament from 2-5 p.m., consisting of eight teams.

Desert Ability Center provides opportunities to improve the quality of life for athletes who have a range of physical disabilities.(Photo: Courtesy Desert Ability Center)

Desert Ability Center provides opportunities toimprove the quality of life for athletes (and their family members) with a range of physical disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, amputationsand blindness while raising awareness of adaptive sports and the abilities of people who live with a disability.We enable the public to dis(cover)abilities.

DAC believes in the power of sport to change the world, connect people and open the door of opportunity and inclusion for the valley's children and youth with a disability.

Michael Rosenkrantz is the program director for Desert Ability Center, working to develop more adaptive sports for athletes in the Coachella Valley.

First annual Up/Down Doubles Tennis Tournament Fundraiser

When: Sunday, Jan. 26, 12:30-5 p.m.

Where: JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, 74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert

Information: Michael Rosenkrantz (520) 244-4575, michael@daccv.org

desertabilitycenter.org

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You've never seen tennis like this before - Desert Sun

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