Support Richard Bradley – The Tricky Veteran Pickleball Player from Elmira, Ontario

This campaign has been created by Looey Tremblay and Kim Porter to support our friend and fellow pickleball player, Richard Bradley. Every donation will go directly to Richard to help cover his significant, ongoing out-of-pocket medical expenses. Your support—no matter the amount—will make a meaningful difference. Please consider donating.

Richard lives and breathes pickleball. He’s not just a skilled and experienced player—he’s a student of the game, always learning, always teaching. On the court, his calm focus, sharp instincts, and quiet intensity speak volumes. But what really sets him apart is how deeply he believes in the game’s power to heal—physically, mentally, and emotionally. For Richard, pickleball is more than a sport; it’s a lifeline.

Fun Fact: Richard authored an international pickleball coach education and certification curriculum resulting in the minting of over 400 pickleball coaches throughout Asia, Austrialia and New Zealand.

At the net, his slice backhand is a surgical weapon—low, penetrating, and hard to counter. He’s viciously effective at poaching but always plays his position with discipline and grace, encouraging his partners and elevating the team’s play. Richard’s quick hands and cat-like reflexes make him a nightmare in fast exchanges—if you’re a dog, you’re in trouble.

He’s got a deep bag of tricks: dazzling around-the-post shots, surprise Erne attacks, and an uncanny ability to read the play two shots ahead. A true tactician with the fire of a competitor, Richard is the kind of player you hate to face and love to play with.

Help Richard Heal and Return to the Game He Loves

If you’ve ever met Richard, you know he’s a fighter—on and off the pickleball court. A fiercely dedicated player, loving son, and cherished friend, Richard has spent years living with the devastating effects of urethra and bladder cancer. After exhausting every alternative and conventional treatment available—including rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy—he recently had no choice but to undergo a high-risk, 12-hour life-saving surgery.

This surgery marks only the beginning of a long and difficult journey. Richard has already endured more than 14 agonizing days in the hospital, with many more ahead as he faces a challenging road to recovery. While the operation was a vital and life-saving step, it also brings significant, ongoing out-of-pocket medical expenses. These costs—essential to keeping Richard alive—are expected to reach thousands, and possibly tens of thousands of dollars each year, depending on how well his body responds and adapts post-surgery.

As if fighting cancer weren’t enough, Richard is also the sole caregiver for his elderly mother, who faces her own physical and cognitive health challenges. For years, he has quietly and selflessly cared for her at their home in Elmira. As a result of his own medical crisis, Richard can no longer provide the care she needs—or support himself during his healing process.

A small group of friends has been doing their best to support Richard’s mother during his hospital stay, but the weight of that responsibility will only grow in the weeks and months to come. Richard will need substantial help covering basic living expenses, rehabilitation, follow-up care, ongoing treatments, and caregiver support for his mother. The financial strain is very real—and it’s increasing every day.

Richard is not someone who easily asks for help—but right now, he truly needs ours.

If you’ve ever played a game of pickleball with him, shared a laugh, or admired his lightning-fast reflexes and tricky around-the-post shots—you know the passion and positivity he brings to life. Let’s rally behind him now, so he can heal, recover, and, with hope, return to the game and the community he loves.

Any amount helps. Whether it’s $10, $50, or more, every contribution makes a difference in Richard’s fight to survive, heal, and support his family.

Please consider donating—and help us spread the word by sharing this campaign widely.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

#TeamRichard

#PickleballStrong

#ElmiraHero