{"id":428529,"date":"2026-10-15T13:26:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T13:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/428529\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:26:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T13:26:26","slug":"tennis-tourney-raises-funds-for-alzheimers-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/428529\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennis tourney raises funds for Alzheimer\u2019s research"},"content":{"rendered":"


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From left, Angelo Gentile and Michael Ciuffo with Venita Winslett, wife of Joe Winslett, during the Second Annual Joe Winslett Tennis Tournament on Saturday at The Courts Cape Coral.<\/p>\n

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THE COURTS CAPE CORAL
\nKelly James prepares to serve it up at the Second Annual Joe Winslett Tennis Tournament on Saturday at The Courts Cape Coral to benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.<\/p>\n

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Joe Winslett, a longtime Cape Coral tennis fixture dating back to the days of the Cape Coral Yacht Club\u2019s tennis center, lost his battle with Alzheimer\u2019s in 2024. <\/p>\n

On Saturday, The Courts Cape Coral celebrated its Second Annual Joe Winslett Tennis Tournament in his honor.<\/p>\n

Eighty-eight players took part in the tournament that was founded to benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer\u2019s and to remember Winslett, all while raising awareness of the battle against the disease.<\/p>\n

Lisa Zuk, general manager of The Courts Cape Coral, said the tournament is the highlight tennis event of the year at the venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so important really because of Joe Winslett,\u201d she said. \u201cHe was a member, great guy, very popular, well loved. And of course his wife, Venita, and the tremendous amount of effort she has put into this tournament. And of course the cause \u2014 so many people have it, my grandfather had it. It\u2019s tough to watch somebody go through that. So this tournament has a very sentimental feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of the players in the tournament knew Winslett dating back to his days playing at the Yacht Club. Some came from other tennis clubs in Lee County to show their support for not only him, but to support Alzheimer\u2019s research.<\/p>\n

Angelo Gentile was one of Winslett\u2019s closest friends and tennis partners. He believes Winslett would be touched to see such an event in his honor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis would have meant everything to him,\u201d said Gentile. \u201cHe would love everyone coming out to play tennis, his friends, having a good time in his name. I knew Joe for about 10 years. Through tennis, I met one of my best friends. This event shows how much Joe meant to everybody. Just the collaborative effort of everybody involved to get this together to play tennis for Joe says all you need to know about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 116,022 Americans lose their life to Alzheimer\u2019s each year, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the United States overall and fifth leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older.<\/p>\n

The CDC also estimates between 500,000 and 1 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s yearly.<\/p>\n

Organizers of the tournament were confident money raised this year will surpass last year\u2019s total. A raffle of prizes donated by local vendors raised more than $7,000. A donation from The Courts Cape Coral will be included with the money used to help fund research for a cure to Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Venita Winslett, his wife and a club member, is a driving force behind the event. Her tireless efforts have made the event grow year over year. The turnout and involvement of volunteers shows her how much people care and want to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been quite an emotional roller coaster today,\u201d she said. \u201cWe had (bad) weather, all that went on with that, yet so many people showed up to support Joe (and) to support the event from a great tennis community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others who knew Winslett talked about how joyful he was, how humble an opponent he was, despite a strong desire to win. Those who attended the event said he would be deeply touched and honored that the work to cure Alzheimer\u2019s would in a small way carry his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe would be absolutely thrilled,\u201d Venita Winslett said. \u201cI am sure he is smiling down now, looking at everybody and wishing he could be here with us, but glad that everybody is carrying on to do what he loved to do so much, play tennis\u201d<\/p>\n

Zuk says The Courts Cape Coral will continue the event year after year.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday was a challenge with the weather. People were troopers, everybody showed up and waited out a two and a half hour delay,\u201d she said. \u201cIt just shows how important this event is to our tennis community.\u201d<\/p>\n


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