Our Mission is to bring the Tennis and Diabetic Communities together in a fun and family-friendly environment in order to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research, to support local Researchers, and to promote Tennis in Utah, all in memory of Ardene R Bullard who was passionate about tennis and caring for a diabetic granddaughter.
The Of Love Tournament is non-profit, so all donations and ticket revenue go to supporting this cause and to the cost of running the tournament. Thanks to the large number of attendees and also to the great sponsors, the tournament continues to grow each year. After nine years it is currently one of the largest tennis tournaments of its kind in the State of Utah. However, we are always striving to do more! Support our cause today by donating to the tournament. To donate, visit our donations page.
In August of 2009 Ardene R. Bullard died suddenly at the relatively young age of 54. Ardene was a tennis enthusiast; playing in the community with passion and athletic grace at the 4.5 level for many years. After her death, and at the prodding of her former tennis teammates, the idea of a memorial tennis tournament took hold. Ardene was much more than a tennis player. Ardene was married to Lonnie M. Bullard for 32 years and was a devoted mother of nine children, three adopted from an orphanage in Moldova. She loved life and was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Her passion for the research of Juvenile Diabetes was born out of the love for her first granddaughter Mykah who was diagnosed when she was just 18 months old.
Mykah Lynne Bullard is the oldest granddaughter of Lonnie and Ardene Bullard. In many ways her life is very much like any other little girl. However, Mykah has a dream that most little girls don’t have; finding a cure for Type I Diabetes. Seven years ago Mykah was diagnosed with diabetes. Since her diagnosis at 18 months, her days have included 4-5 insulin shots, 6-8 finger sticks, and constant dietary monitoring. To date, she has endured approximately 8,000 insulin shots and over 14,000 finger sticks; and as we have yet to find a cure for Type I Diabetes, she has much more of the same to come. Her story is not unique, but is shared by thousands of children with Type I Diabetes across the country and all over the world. Mykah may never play tennis on the women’s professional tour, but in part because of your generous donation, she is that much closer to one of her dreams becoming a reality.