Pickle in Pink, a breast cancer pickleball tournament

What it is

STRENGTH Classic: Pickle in Pink is our breast cancer pickleball tournament. It's a community doubles tournament and a social, and every team raises money for breast cancer awareness, research and support. You play, you hang out, and the money goes somewhere that matters.

It isn't only for serious players. Wear pink, have fun, and play hard when it counts.

Where it is held

In 2026, Pickle in Pink was set for three clubs:

• Chicago. SPF Chicago.
• Atlanta. Painted Pickle, where the listing called its social side the Pink Club.
• Chesterfield, near St. Louis. Paddle Up Pickleball Club, together with Living Well.

All three were set for October. Next year's dates aren't out yet. Keep an eye on our events calendar.

How teams and fundraising work

You enter as a doubles team, two players. Each team gets its own fundraising page, so you can send the link to family, coworkers and that one friend who always says they'll donate. On the 2026 Chicago listing, teams that raised $1,000 or more got their team fee paid back.

The team fee is set on each city's listing. It isn't the same everywhere, so check the one for your city.

Where the money goes

Each city's listing names who the money supports, and we follow what it says. In 2026 the Chicago tournament listed Positively Pink and STRENGTH IN THE CITY as beneficiaries, and its page included a section on the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation and its research. The Chesterfield tournament, hosted with Living Well, raised money for breast cancer foundation partners. Read your city's listing before you sign up so you know exactly where your team's money is going.

What the day feels like

Pickleball, pink everything, and a social gathering around the courts. It's competitive enough to be fun and relaxed enough that you don't have to be good.

New to pickleball?

You can learn enough to play a tournament game in an afternoon. The short version: it's played on a small court with paddles and a plastic ball, the serve is underhand, and in doubles you and your partner share one side. There's a zone near the net, often called the kitchen, where you can't hit the ball out of the air. Play a few games with your partner before the day, agree on who takes the middle, and you're ready.

Why pickleball

It's easy to learn, you can talk while you play, and a doubles team of two is about the easiest team to put together. That's why it works so well as a fundraiser. It's also one of our favorite fitness date ideas, if you want a partner in more ways than one.

More team events

If you liked playing for a cause with a partner, you might like STRENGTH Showdown, our team fitness competition for teams of four. And for something lower key, there are our fitness pop-ups and socials.

Questions people ask