A local tennis player is embarking on a 24-Hour tennis marathon in honour of her mum who is at the end of her life.
Jette Virdi will take up the challenge for her mum Marcia Virdi who is battling cancer and the event which will take place from 4pm on May 24, will raise money for CLAN Cancer Support in Elgin who have been supporting the family since Marcia’s diagnosis three years ago.
Marcia is a well-known tennis coach in Aberdeenshire and Moray and throughout her career taught hundreds of youngsters at different schools and clubs across the north-east.
Now, in her honour, Jette who moved back to the region from Ireland to look after her mum, wants to take on this personal charity challenge and is hoping that others will either get on board by playing with her over the 24-hour period, or by supporting the cause with a donation.
Jette who has a seven-year-old daughter Molly said:
“The challenge is just a fitting way to honour mum and to raise funds for and recognise the amazing work that CLAN Cancer Support in Elgin have been giving us.
“Mum has been part of CLAN since her treatment and they have been counselling Molly now that mum has a terminal diagnosis.
“It’s an invaluable service.”
Jette added:
“Mum has been coaching up here since 1995.
“She started in Aberdeenshire and then Moray and she must have taught hundreds if not thousands of youngsters.
“She also taught coaches how to coach.
“She has been advocating in tennis up here since she began and has been a real force in making sure that children could access tennis or had the equipment to play it in their schools.
“She is a real champion for the underdog, and such an inspiration.”
Speaking about the challenge, Jette added:
“I probably held a tennis racket before anything else.
“It is the one thing I have never been able to beat my mum at, so it’s just fitting to play tennis for her.
“The Forres Tennis Club has been so welcoming and mum has actually given a lot of her equipment to head coach Joe Hargeaves so he can continue to inspire young people into the sport.
“I want as many people as possible to get involved.
“This is not about playing competitively; it’s about raising awareness of what mum has been through and the superb care that we have all been receiving from CLAN and to raise some funds to help them continue that for other families.
“Whether you have experience playing tennis or not, please consider coming down and knocking the ball around with me over the 24 hour period.”
Owen Davidson Knight, chairman of Forres Tennis Club said:
“We have already had several people sign up to support Jette through this massive challenge.
“Jette will begin playing at 4pm on May 24.
“We urge as many people as possible to get involved and come down and hit as many balls as possible over the weekend, in honour of Marcia, who has been so influential in the tennis world up here.”
People can sign up to support Jette HERE
