The Hunter Children’s Research Foundation (HCRF) has opened corporate registrations for its inaugural HCRF Pickleball Classic fundraising tournament on Thursday 6 August 2026. An initiative in partnership with local marketing agency The Marketing GP, the business networking and team-building event will raise funds to support life-saving paediatric medical research conducted via the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).
The tournament introduces a rapid-format corporate engagement experience utilising the growing commercial popularity of pickleball to bring Hunter businesses together to battle it out on the court.
With local businesses already signed on for a little friendly competition, the funds raised will support HCRF’s mission to facilitate life-changing and life-saving ideas from local researchers into real outcomes for children and their families world-wide.
HCRF committee member and CMO at The Marketing GP, Alyssa Brault said this is an exciting alternative to standard golf charity days.
“There are a lot of charity golf days in the Hunter and that’s not everyone’s thing” Alyssa saaid. “We wanted to do something different for a local cause which is celebrating its 30th year of providing seed funding to local researchers who have gone on to make amazing differences in the lives of children and families globally.”
“So Newcastle businesses, come and join us on the court for a little fun, a lot of banter, some good (and questionable) pickleball skills and to raise funds for a good cause.”
Hosted at the fully indoor Pickleballerz facility in Cardiff, the round-robin competition allows local businesses to enter teams of three to four players, with two active on the court at any one time. The event schedule includes coaching from the venue’s onsite pickleball experts, casual networking opportunities and insights from HCRF.
Hunter business owners, corporate executives, and industry teams are encouraged to secure their placements in the region’s newest active networking fixture. Team registrations are strictly capped due to court allocations at the event facility.
HCRF has operated as a volunteer-run organisation since 1996 and is structured as an official auspice group of HMRI.
IMAGE | Hunter Children’s Research Foundation launches inaugural pickleball tournament to fund children’s health research.
