For Karen Rabb, Rally for the Cure is a cause she holds dear.

A close friend and tennis partner died of breast cancer seven years ago.

“It’s just become a thing that I have a passion for,” said Rabb, a Gainesville dietitian. “Plus, we’ve had so many young people in this community who have been diagnosed.”

The Northeast Georgia Tennis Association and Brenau University are sponsoring their second annual Rally for the Cure on May 1 at Brenau’s tennis courts, with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Tennis professionals will be providing drills with participants from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Check-in time is 9 a.m.

As of Monday, 75 slots were filled, with 25 spots still open, Rabb said.

“This year, we’re doing (the event) in honor of our heroes — anybody in the community who has battled breast cancer,” she added.
A silent auction also will take place during the event.

“We’ve had lots of items donated by businesses around the community,” Rabb said.

Brenau is providing lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Rally for the Cure events are held nationwide and vary in activities and when they are held.

“Most people chose to rally through golf or tennis,” according the Rally for the Cure website. “However, the program is easily adaptable to other activities, such as bridge, bunco, mahjong and other fitness pursuits like yoga, spinning and swimming.”

Chris Slate, another Northeast Georgia tennis member, said the event also serves to stir up interest in tennis and increase participation in the association.

“It’s a very cost-effective sport to play,” she said.

Dr. Sherry Brock, an emergency room physician at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, also strongly supports Rally for the Cure.

“I had a sister-in-law who died of breast cancer who was in her 40s. She left three daughters without a mom,” she said.

And the disease struck Brock on Nov. 13. With the cancer detected early, she has been able to avoid chemotherapy and radiation.

But not surgery.

Brock played in last year’s Rally for the Cure but must sit on the sidelines this year, recovering from a double mastectomy.

“Have that yearly mammogram,” she said. “What saved me was that little dot that wasn’t there last year.”