West Side Tennis Club to Host Inaugural Mats Wilander Foundation Tennis Pro-Am
The Inaugural Mats Wilander Foundation Tennis Pro-Am benefiting debra of America will be held at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y., Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Join us during the 2013 U.S. Open for this special event at West Side Tennis Club, the home to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships for over six decades. Tickets to the event benefit debra of America, the only national non-profit dedicated to funding research for treatments and a cure, while providing supportive services and programs for those who suffer from the rare and painful genetic disorder, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)–The Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of.™
The Inaugural MW Foundation Tennis Pro-Am benefiting debra of America includes:
â–ºPlay with Mats Wilander, former number one tennis player in the world and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
â–ºHit with former and current tennis pros on three court surfaces
â–ºInstructional clinics, competition drills and round-robins
â–ºA professional exhibition match
â–ºContinental Breakfast and BBQ lunch with beer, wine and cocktails
Notable past supporting celebrity and professional players include: Leslie Allen, James Blake, Thomas Blake, Jim Courier, Honorable David Dinkins, Will Ferrell, David Graham, Cameron Lickle, John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Yannick Noah, Karel Novácek, Jared Palmer, Mikael Pernfors and Christy Turlington.
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. There are many genetic and symptomatic variations of EB, but all share the prominent symptom of extremely fragile skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. Internal organs and bodily systems can also be seriously affected by the disease. EB is always painful, is often pervasive and debilitating, and is in some cases lethal before the age of 30. EB affects 1 out of every 20,000 live births and those born with it are often called ‘Butterfly Children’ because as the analogy goes, their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly. There is no treatment or cure. Daily wound care, pain management and protective bandaging are the only options available. Learn more at debra.org
SAVE IT. SEND IT. SHARE IT. are the ideals that the MW Foundation stands for, not only while on a tennis court but for everyday life. Mats Wilander started the Foundation in association with Wilander on Wheels, when his 15 year old son, Erik, was born with a mild form of Epidermolysis Bullosa. Mats has been instrumental in helping debra of America raise awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa and funds for research and the supportive services and programs.
