Welcome to our 2nd Annual “Picklin’ for a Cure”! The 2022 event will again be to continue to raise awareness and funds for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDSA) and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) as well as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
This tournament will pay special tribute to Dr. T.K. Warfield who lost his battle with Lewy Body Dementia on 3/16/2022 and Tony Gomez who passed away on 7/17/2022 of ALS.
This year we are partnered up with Tucson Area Pickleball (TAP) and are excited for another great success in raising money for these worthy non-profit organizations.
Thank you for your support! Tom Warfield
All funds raised will be divided between Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
TK Warfield
Dr. Warfield was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia in the fall of 2015. Dr. T.K. Warfield lost his battle with Lewy Body Dementia on 3/16/2022.
Dr. T.K. Warfield, a Tucson, AZ native and retired veterinary surgeon, was an associate veterinarian and eventually became the president of Valley Animal Hospital in Tucson. He practiced medicine for 40 years, with his primary goals always being to provide the residents of the Tucson metropolitan area with comprehensive medical and surgical care for their animals and for his hospital to be one of the leading veterinary hospitals in Arizona.
Dr. Warfield’s was also very involved with the Tucson community; at one time a Director on the Board of the Carondelet Foundation, the President of the Carondelet Foundation, Father of the Year at the Steele Children’s Research Center; and a member of the Tucson Humane Society Board, The Centurions and the United Way. He was an avid cyclist, runner, high mountain climber and Boy Scout leader.
He officially retired from his practice in May of 2016. It was perhaps one of the most difficult decisions he had ever had to make and he missed Valley Animal Hospital and his patients every single day.
Karen Warfield
Karen Warfield, born raised in Tucson, Arizona spent her entire career in the financial Industry. A business woman Karen also dedicated her life to building a family and raising her children. Karen is a wife, mother, daughter of Paul and Rita Metz and Grammy to five beautiful grandchildren.
In 1980, Karen had an accident during the night closing, a large metal canister accidently fell on Karen’s arm. As a result, she had to have surgery on a nerve in her arm, and complicating issues resulted Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) formerly called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). It took several years to get a proper diagnosis. Although, Karen had several more procedures and surgeries, she continued employment at the bank. She persevered to become a financial planner. Karen’s last position, a private banker, was her favorite because of the relationships she developed with her high valued clients based on mutual trust and respect.
Karen was forced to stop working because of CRPS. This was a difficult time because CRPS is so misunderstood and prognosis is unknown. Karen is raising money for research she hopes will lead to a cure.
Tony Gomez
Tony Gomez is a Tucson Native who was diagnosed with ALS is September of 2020 and passed away July 17, 2022. ALS or as many know it by Lou Gehrig's Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes the nerve cells to break down, which ultimately causes a person to lose the ability to physically function and they die. Currently there is no cure for ALS An individual with ALS has a life expectancy of 2-5 years.
Tony is married to Mendy Gomez and has two children; Talia and Adam. Tony graduated in 1989 from the University of Arizona with a Architecture Degree. Upon graduating Tony worked for private architecture firms in California and Arizona until 2009, when he became a Civil Engineer for the United States Air Force here in Tucson at Davis Monthan. Tony and Mendy then moved to San Antonio for a new assignment, but returned to Tucson after Tony's ALS diagnosis.
Tony's enjoyment for Pickleball started when he wanted to stay active during work days. He would play during lunch at the Davis Monthan gym. If you knew Tony, you know he can be very competitive, so he expanded his competition to other areas of Tucson and began friendships with others that enjoy Pickleball. Tony was actively involved playing Pickleball until November of 2021 and the sport has provided him with a support system outside the game. Although, Tony's ALS progresses, the love and support he and his family receive give them hope that one day there will be a cure for this disease.
