Manchester Padel Club in Cheadle and The Christie Charity have announced a new partnership that will enable businesses to combine corporate padel events with fundraising for cancer care across the North West.
With padel becoming increasingly popular for team socials, networking and client events, the partnership will create new fundraising opportunities through corporate events hosted at Manchester Padel Club, while giving The Christie Charity another way to engage businesses and corporate supporters through sport.
David Thomas, co-founder of Manchester Padel Club, said: “From day one, we’ve wanted MPC to be about more than just courts. We’ve built a club where people come to play and improve their game, but also to socialise and feel part of a community.
“We want to have a positive impact on the community around us too. We do that in lots of different ways, including working with local schools, supporting Manchester Revolution Wheelchair Basketball Club and helping more people get active through padel.
“That’s why this partnership with The Christie Charity feels like such a natural fit. It gives businesses a way to bring people together while supporting an organisation that means so much to people across Greater Manchester.”
The partnership has personal significance for members of the MPC community who have experienced The Christie’s care first-hand.
For MPC player Teresa Wyness, padel became an important part of her life following the sudden death of her husband in 2024. Having only recently discovered the sport, one of the last things he was able to say to her was to “keep playing padel”. Less than two years later, Teresa was diagnosed with breast cancer and received treatment at The Christie.
Teresa said: “When my husband died, padel provided exactly the therapy I needed. For the time I was on court, nothing was in my head apart from doing my best to win the next point. I played regularly and made new friends.
“When I was then diagnosed with breast cancer, living near The Christie hospital felt like I’d won the jackpot. The staff were amazing and I was fortunate to receive treatment quickly.
“I couldn’t play for three months while I was recovering, but I still came to MPC for a coffee or to watch a game. I’m immensely grateful for the treatment provided by The Christie and the healing of mind and body offered by the sport of padel.”
John Ashley, corporate fundraising manager at The Christie Charity, said: “We’ve seen a real rise in padel fundraising events within the workplace over the past 12 months, with our corporate partners using them to bring people together for networking and team-building while raising funds.
“For businesses, Manchester Padel Club is in a great location and has enough courts to host large-scale tournaments. We look forward to working together to support the life-saving and life-changing work of The Christie hospital.”
