Tennis tournament proceeds to benefit local ALS support

By Ed Pierce

Tennis champion Pete Sampras wasn’t thinking specifically about Windham when he shared his thoughts about the game, but a statement he once made describes an upcoming event here perfectly. “Tennis uses the language of life. Advantage, service, fault, love – the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence, because every match is a life in miniature," Sampras said.

Friends of Phil Swan are staging a tennis tournament on
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Windham High School to assist ALS
programs in Maine after Swan was diagnosed with
ALS recently. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Bill Gallant has been part of a group of up to 16 people playing tennis in Windham for more than two decades and along the way he’s made plenty of friends on the courts at Windham High School but none more special than Phil Swan. Over the years, the two have become close friends and worked together at Sappi Warren before Bill’s retirement.

A few months ago, Phil learned that he has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare neurodegenerative condition that results in the progressive loss of both upper and lower motor neurons that control voluntary muscle contraction, movement, and breathing. Prominent individuals who have lost their lives to ALS include baseball star Lou Gehrig and physicist Stephen Hawking.

Gallant and his tennis friends are a tight group, playing outdoors in the summer and indoors during the winter months, and they were shocked to hear about Phil’s diagnosis.

“We all immediately wanted to do something to help Phil but he’s an extremely proud man and wouldn’t accept our help,” Gallant said. “We wanted to hold a tennis tournament while the weather’s still good to raise money to assist Phil with his treatment but wouldn’t take any of it.”

So instead of donating proceeds from a tennis tournament directly to Phil, the group decided to stage a tournament in Windham named for their friend and donate whatever is collected to a local ALS charity in Maine that offers advocacy opportunities, virtual support groups, and ongoing emotional support and logistical guidance for families impacted by ALS.

Sponsored by Windham Parks and Recreation, the Phil Swan ALS Tennis Tournament will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Windham High School Tennis Courts and runs all day.

“Right now, we have 20 teams competing in the tournament,” Gallant said. “It will be a mixed doubles tournament and a double-elimination event.”

A food truck will be at the site for those who want to come and watch the tournament.

“I guess I’ve known about ALS for a long time,” Gallant said. “It’s a terrible disease and now it’s hit close to home and our friend Phil, whom I have known for 25 years.”

According to Gallant, the game of tennis is a way of life for everyone involved with the Windham group.

“Tennis is a great sport,” he said. “It brings the community together in an atmosphere of friendship and laughter. We have players of all ages, and we even have someone who plays who is 89 years old. It truly is a sport you can play all your life.”

The group organizing the tournament to do something in their friend Phil’s name is grateful to Windham Parks and Recreation for helping them with the tournament and to RSU 14 for the use of their courts for the fundraiser.

The entry fee for teams competing in the tournament is $100 and there is still time left to enter and compete. To register, send an email to bburnham2@hotmail.com or to amyjuned@gmail.com

“We are doing what we can because Phil is such a great guy and are hoping whatever we can raise from this tournament will help prevent this happening to anyone else,” Gallant said. “Our tennis group is all about friendship and this is such a sad situation happening to our friend. We couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.” <