Stories of Strength
Real people. Real resilience. Explore stories from our community—veterans, survivors, athletes, and leaders—turning personal challenges into service for others.
Valerie Rose Simon
My name is Valerie Rose, and I’m a 17-year-old from Florida (Originally New York). I’ve made my mark on the world not only with a powerful forehand on the tennis and pickleball courts, but through an unshakable determination to make a difference.
Matteo Cugliari
PPA Pickleball Tour Europe • Barcelona
Matteo came through repeated bone surgeries and kept playing. He joined the Serve For Strength clinic in Barcelona to help players working back from the same place he had been.
“I had many surgery problems, unfortunately, but I never give up. It forced my mentality, my game, to stay focused every day, to give my 100% — and now I’m here, competing.”
Interviewed by Victoria Simon.
Audrey — “Pickleballmama”
PPA Challenger Series
Audrey was told she had the ankle of a 60 year old, and surgeons wanted to fuse it. Years later her physical therapist told her that was not necessarily true — and that one sentence removed the belief that she could not play singles again.
“Is that injury gonna reoccur? Am I gonna hurt myself again? By doing all the strengthening, I actually felt a lot more confident going out on the court.”
Her advice to anyone still waiting: do your own research, take control of your own body, and stay proactive with your doctor.
Giovanni — Salt N Pepper Pickleball
PPA Challenger Series
Giovanni reviews paddles as Salt N Pepper Pickleball. He has played back through two knee surgeries, including an ACL, and still cannot straighten the leg all the way — so he is in the gym almost every other day working to get it back. He took bronze at the event.
“It’s the small little achievements that really mean so much.”
Greg Johnson & Jay Grayson
PPA Challenger Series
Greg and Jay sat down with us at the Challenger charity fundraiser — their first tournament together, and they picked a charity event on purpose. Jay came through homelessness and the challenges of immigration at seventeen, and worked his way up through school on scholarships. The two of them competed, and they medaled.
“First generation immigrant, I was homeless after 17, had to work hard just to stay off the streets and get ahead… get ahead in school, earn the right scholarships to survive, and I made it.” — Jay
On why they chose a charity tournament: everyone needs some help sometimes.