Mid-Cape Racquet Planning Fund-Raiser For Longtime Member

“He was one of the original members. He was there when Mid-Cape Racquet and Health Club was a fledgling business, when it was not a health club, just a place where tennis enthusiasts gathered to battle across the nets. Now, Chuck Williams is fighting for his life, and the owners of Mid-Cape Racquet and Health want to give back to one of their oldest and dearest customers. ‘He's been a friend to many people here. You remember that when he's one of the first people in the door,’ said Bob Lynch, owner of the Cape Coral club. ‘He's been coming here on a regular basis since the beginning.’ Lynch and the club are throwing a fund-raiser, a ‘Chuckapalooza,’ to help Williams and his family while Williams battles stage four brain cancer. The family found itself in a tough financial battle after its business, Coast to Coast Fence, was forced to shut down. Though it still has Acorn Business Advisors up and running, the family is facing steep medical bills. Lynch and company hope to mitigate those circumstances by offering a fun filled day of tennis and excitement. ‘You hear these stories a lot and it hits us at a personal level when it's one of our members,’ he said. Williams' journey has been documented online at: CaringBridge.org, a personalized Web site that connects and supports family members during critical illness. A feature of the Web site is the journal, which chronicles Williams' trials during his treatment. The day-to-day entries include Williams' battles with chemotherapy, his safety at home and fatigue experienced from treatment. The fund-raiser is really aimed at celebrating Williams and his family, including his wife, Chris, and two children, Jasen and R.J. The day's festivities will start with ‘round robins,’ according to a prepared statement. Everyone who attends will get to play games, watch tennis exhibitions, participate in challenges and receive free pizza, sponsored by Dominos. Lynch said players of all tennis skill levels are welcome to participate, and the competitors will be matched according to skill level. ‘We're allowing anyone to come in, participate, watch or make a donation,’ he said. ‘Anybody who wants to can come in.’”

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