Third Annual Gootter Grand Slam to Benefit Cardiac Arrest Research
The event is named for Steve Gootter, an athletic father of two who died from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 42.
The Third Annual Gootter Grand Slam, being held to raise funds for sudden cardiac death research at The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, takes place this weekend.
The event will kick off with a gala dinner at Skyline Country Club, 5200 E. Saint Andrews Drive at 7 p.m. on Saturday, featuring a live auction.
On Sunday, a wellness fair, tennis tournament and professional exhibition match will be held at Randolph Tennis Center, 50 S. Alvernon Way. Mats Wilander, once the top-ranked tennis player in the world, and Aaron Krickstein, a former top-10-ranked player, will compete in the professional exhibition match.
Proceeds from the weekend's events will go toward the Steven M. Gootter Endowed Chair for the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death at the Sarver Heart Center. The endowment will enable long-term, highly focused study of sudden cardiac death and work toward making strides in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease.
One of the goals of this research focus is to identify individuals who are at risk of sudden cardiac death and take appropriate preventive actions. Coronary heart disease is a common, but by no means the only, risk factor for sudden death, which is the most common cause of non-violent death in the United States – causing about 325,000 adult deaths each year.
Established in 2006, the Gootter Grand Slam has raised more than $500,000 for the Steven M. Gootter Foundation, whose mission is to save lives by defeating sudden cardiac death through increased awareness, education and scientific research.
The foundation was formed by the friends and family of Steve Gootter, a vibrant, athletic 42-year-old father of two who lost his life to sudden cardiac death on Feb. 10, 2005. Like many victims of sudden cardiac death, Gootter had no known history of heart disease and no previous health problems.
Events scheduled for March 30, 2008:
- 9 a.m. - Pros' clinic with top juniors
- Wellness Fair begins
- 10 a.m. - Pro-Celebrity Doubles Exhibition
- 10:45 a.m. - Pro Singles Exhibition with Mats Wilander and Aaron Krickstein
- Noon - Doubles Tournament
- 2:45 p.m. - Awards Presentations
The Third Annual Gootter Grand Slam is presented by Canyon Ranch and the Zuckerman Family Foundation. Tickets to the gala are $150 per person, and tickets to the tennis tournament are $25 for spectators and $75 for players. Tickets can be purchased by calling 520-615-6430. For more information, visit www.stevenmgootterfoundation.org.
et cetera
- What | Third Annual Gootter Grand Slam
- When | March 29-30
- Extra Info | Sarver Heart Center