One Winner,
All Champions
There can only be one winner,
but everybody can be a
champion for people with disabilities.
Help us reach our goal of 32 teams competing and
$10,000 to donate to Hope Heals Camp.
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL BLACK FRIDAY DEAL
Our Story
Hi, I’m Amelia. This is my husband Brandon and our son Wilson. Wilson was born in November of 2020.
If being pregnant during a global pandemic wasn’t stressful enough, at 28 weeks, we discovered Wilson was growing at a slower rate and had a heart defect. This was the start of our adventure into a life affected by disability.
Just a few hours after he was born and whisked away to the NICU, we were invited to join rounds. In an open NICU in front of other doctors, nurses, and parents, we were informed that they thought Wilson had a genetic disorder called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. We struggled to understand what this meant. The doctor bluntly told us, “This is bad news.” We were given a fuzzy handout listing all the challenges people with CdLS can face.
This was not the news we wanted to hear, but nothing about Wilson or his diagnosis is “bad.”
We were sad and angry. We struggled to imagine a future that didn’t seem terrible. Over time, we realized the pain we felt was not caused by our son’s diagnosis. The grief we experienced came from our belief that goodness and belonging were linked to ability and achievement. We clung to the fixed idea of the good life without knowing it. Once we loosened our grip on our version of good we began to see God’s goodness in our son and those around us.
This openness allowed the seeds of a new life to sprout. We want this event and community to be the warm-up to disability that 2019 Amelia and Brandon needed to prepare them for the life changes coming in 2020.
This tournament is meant to grow your imagination and stretch your willingness to see joy and wholeness in new, deeper ways.
Disability is not a bad word; it is just a different point of view. We are more than the sum of our abilities.
2024 Results
Our hearts overflowed with gratitude, seeing 16 teams and several dozen fans competing and cheering
at the first Purple Pickle Pickleball Tournament.
Thanks to your generosity, we raised $7,400 for the US CdLS Foundation in 2024.
2024 WINNERS
Tournament Details
June 7, 2025
The Painted Pickle
279 Ottley Drive | Atlanta, GA
Teams will advance through double elimination with teams playing one 15-point game per round.
Losing once moves you to a secondary bracket, maintaining a chance for redemption. Each team will be guaranteed to play twice.
Only mixed doubles teams are invited to compete.
All skill levels are invited to participate for a chance to win the Purple Paddle.
FAQs
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Purple is the official color of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.
Purple also has great alliteration with pickle!
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People with CdLS have physical and intellectual disabilities.
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) is a genetic disorder present from birth, usually not inherited. It is usually due to an acquired change (variation) in one of seven important developmental genes at or shortly after conception. The signs of CdLS may be obvious from birth or even prenatally, especially if severely involved, but may not be diagnosed until the child is older when it is milder. It causes such a broad range of potential physical, cognitive and medical challenges that it is now known as the CdLS spectrum disorder.
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There are other ways you can participate in The Purple Pickle without picking up a paddle.
1. Sign up to cheer as a member of the Fan Club on the day of the tournament.
2. Give as a supporter.
Benefiting the
The Everybody
Foundation
More information coming soon.
