Pickleball 4 Parkinson's was created from a need to do more to help my husband, Larry Munson, as I continued to witness his daily challenges with Parkinson's. By developing a pickleball tournament fundraiser to support The Michael J Fox Foundation with their goal to find a cure, or at least to stop the progression of this disease once diagnosed, was a welcomed endeavour to achieve. Larry loved being a part of the development team, and always looked forward to throwing out the first pickleball to start the tournament.
Unfortunately, Larry passed on this past September 2025 due to Parkinson's complications. We will miss his presence this P4P 2026. He will always be remembered as the inspiration behind P4P, giving us his smile of gratitude, and quiet appreciation for all the people supporting this worthy cause.
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Nancy Munson, founder of Pickleball 4 Parkinson’s was honored by CBS Bay Area News with its Icon Award. This award honors local community leaders who do outstanding service to make the San Francisco Bay Area a better place. The news segment is available HERE. It was also reported on by CBS affiliates across the U.S. In being notified of the award, Nancy stated, “I am so very honored to receive this recognition on behalf of all the Pickleball 4 Parkinson’s donors, sponsors, volunteers, and players. The overwhelming support to help The Michael J. Fox Foundation find a cure for those afflicted with this debilitating disease is both heartwarming and motivating.”
The impetus for the first P4P event was the founder’s hope of bringing a community together to raise funds to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease which her husband has had for eleven years.
The inaugural P4P event, held in June 2023, in Walnut Creek, California, was the first West Coast pickleball event organized to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. The tournament had over 400 attendees and raised an incredible $56,000, surpassing the initial goal of $15,000. The 2024 P4P Tournament had more than 600 attendees and raised $81,500 surpassing the $60,000 goal. The events combined competitive play, refreshments, hundreds of exciting prize drawnings and silent auction items, Q & A with MJFF representatives and other related PD services.
It is the hope of the P4P team that pickleball clubs across the nation will hold their own P4P tournament to raise funds for PD research through MJFF. To learn about holding a tournament contact us or reference the Team Fox Handbook.
General Information about P4P tournaments:


During a ceremony in New York City, The Michael J. Fox Foundation honored Pickleball 4 Parkinson's as a 2024 MVP for their contribution to fund research for the cure. Join us today by clicking the button below.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to make the first Pickleball 4 Parkinson’s tournament happen. With all the lessons I learned from the event, one big takeaway was that we all have the capacity to give: to give kindness to those in need, to give love and support to each other, to give encouragement to be our best, and to give our time and energy to build a strong, supportive community.
Everyone gave so much in each one of these areas and that helped make P4P 2023 one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. You all are extraordinary. We, and I mean all of us together, made P4P successful. Thank you.
- Nancy Munson, Chair, Pickleball 4 Parkinson’s
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