ATHELO GROUP PRESENTS
More Than Just
a Tournament.
in honor of the Bennett Cancer Center, Stamford, CT
WHEN
October 23rd, 2026WHERE
The Sports Haus:129 Woodward Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854
BENEFITING
Bennett Cancer Center
CEO & Founder
Andrew Stallings and his wife Bonnie Stallings
A Full Circle Moment.
At Athelo Group, we are a people-first business. We believe that the strongest human bonds are forged in the most difficult moments, a truth our Founder, Andrew Stallings, and his wife, Bonnie, know intimately.
In 2011 early into their relationship, their lives changed forever when Bonnie was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. For Andrew, the diagnosis felt like a haunting game of deja vu, having previously supported his own mother through her battles with multiple sclerosis.
Faced with a choice that would define their future, Andrew and Bonnie chose to fight together. Everything became secondary as they navigated a new reality of surgeries and treatments. Their commitment was simple yet profound:
This experience has taught them that time is the most valuable resource in the world.
The road to recovery was not just a medical battle, but a fundamental shift in how they viewed their lives. When cancer enters a life, you are no longer the architect of your own days. Each morning became a lesson in “borrowed time”, where every personal goal and professional milestone is recalibrated against the demands of a medical calendar. They navigated years of health challenges and complex adjustments that followed long-term treatment, dealing with a different kind of uncertainty with each passing year.
While Bonnie beat the disease in 2018 and today she is cancer free, the battle is one that is never truly “won.” To this day, she remains on a daily medication regimen and undergoes regular screenings and check-ups. Their story has taught them that survivorship isn’t a destination, but a continuous journey of patience and understanding. This experience has taught them that time is our most precious resource in this world and that we must seize every moment to be the best versions of ourselves for our partners, our colleagues and our communities.
For the last decade, the Bennett Cancer Center in Stamford, Connecticut, has served as a sanctuary for healing for the Stallings family. It is a place of hope, world-class research, and community, a place where Andrew and Bonnie have once watched with pride as Bonnie rang the bell signaling the end of her cancer treatments.
This October, Athelo is hosting our Charity Pickleball Tournament to pay it forward: we want to give back our time, energy, and resources to support those currently walking the path that Bonnie once did. This event is a full circle moment, it is the culmination of everything Athelo values: the family, the business, and the drive to help others find their strength.
We Play For.
01
SUPPORT
To provide tangible resources for patients navigating the deeply difficult circumstances of a cancer diagnosis – meeting them where they are with care and compassion.
02
RESEARCH
To fund the Bennett Cancer Center’s life-changing medical advancements and growth – investing in the breakthroughs that will define the next generation of cancer care.
03
COMMUNITY
The Bennett Cancer Center.
The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center, opened in 1990, was the first cancer center established within a community hospital in Fairfield County. Its creation ensured that patients could receive high-quality cancer care close to home, surrounded by their support systems. Since opening its doors, the Center’s physicians, nurses, and staff have cared for nearly 1,300 patients each year.
The Bennett Cancer Center provides exceptional clinical care, offering access to aerial specialist physicians, highly skilled nurses, advanced treatment options, and comprehensive supportive services. Every resource is designed to be accessible and convenient, allowing patients to focus on healing while remaining in their own community.
One of the Center’s signature fundraising initiatives is Paint the Town Pink, which also supports Stamford Health’s Breast Center. This community-wide campaign emphasizes the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection while honoring survivors and remembering those we lost.
Held each October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Paint the Town Pink raises funds to support women with breast cancer, particularly those who are low income, uninsured, or underinsured. Stamford Health provides more than 30,000 mammograms each year, and up to 1,000 women annually rely on financial assistance to access essential services.
Funds raised through Paint the Town Pink help ensure that women in our region can receive mammograms, breast ultrasounds, MRIs, support services, educational programs, free cold caps and more, all free of charge. At its heart, the campaign celebrates survivorship, strengthens community awareness, and ensures that every woman has access to the care she needs.
7,300+
Patients served annually
30,000+
Mammograms per year
1,000
Women on financial assistance annually
1990
Year established
Paint the Town Pink.
Our tournament aligns with the Bennett Cancer Center’s signature annual campaign – Paint the Town Pink – held each October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Funds raised ensure women across our region receive mammograms, breast ultrasounds, MRIs, support services, and more. All funds raised from the tournament will go towards Paint the Town Pink.
Tournament Details and Event Info.
LOGISTICS
October 23rd, 2026
The Sports Haus:
129 Woodward Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854
Pickleball Tournament
Competitive & recreational formats - all skill levels welcome
Benefiting the Bennett Cancer Center
All proceeds support patient care, research & financial assistance programs
DAY-OF SCHEDULE
Check-in & Tournament Welcome
Round Robin Play Begins
Bracket Continues - Food Truck Opens
Tournament Play
Celebrity Match
Championship Match
Awards Ceremony, Raffle & Closing Remarks
Event Concludes - Food Truck Closes
Secure Your Spot.
General Admission
Ticket includes entry to the event.
- Event admission
- Food and beverages included
- Support the Bennett Cancer Center while enjoying an evening of pickleball and community
Team Tournament Entry
Ticket includes admission to the event and tournament entry for a team of 2 players.
- Tournament Entry for team of 2 players
- Full event admission for both players
- Food and beverages included
Give what you can.
100% of net proceeds go directly to the Bennett Cancer Center.
The Partners Making It Possible.
Their support turns this tournament into something that truly matters.
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset’s Body Type sheets. It has survived not only many decades, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised thanks to these sheets and more recently with desktop publishing software including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Ready to Play?
Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, your presence makes a difference. Register your team, become a sponsor, or reach out to learn more about how you can be part of this full-circle moment.
#Bstrong