Dale Power Needs Our Help

Help Dale Power Get Over the Net.

A purist, a minimalist, a professional tennis player, and an amateur yogi of almost 50 years; Dale Power has recently been diagnosed with cancer and he needs our help.

On June 7, 2023, Dale made a hesitant trip to Sunnybrook Hospital to check out a few concerning symptoms. He's still there, nearly 6 weeks later. Diagnosed with bladder cancer as well as a type of blood cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), Dale has a long road ahead to recovery.

Just weeks before entering Sunnybrook, 73-year-old Dale was happily teaching tennis up to 6 hours a day as a tennis pro at the Granite Club in Toronto. His astonishing energy is driven by his love of the game and for sharing it with others. Throughout nearly 40 years of coaching, Dale has inspired thousands of players of all ages and skill levels from around the world. As an independent contractor, however, he has not had the luxury of benefits or a pension plan. When the net falls, the cash flow stops which is why we are asking for your support to help him through his recovery and transition into a much-deserved retirement.

Dale Power was a pioneer of Canadian tennis. When he played in the 1970's it was for the love of the game. Unlike today, there was very little money in tennis. Living a modest lifestyle, rich with travel, and experience, suited Dale just fine at that time.

Dale had an extraordinary career. He holds the distinction of playing the longest set in Davis Cup history in 1976, a set won by Colombian Álvaro Betancourt 24-22 in a match won by Power in 5 sets. He was a top-ranked player in Canada for 12 years, winning the Canadian Closed Championship for singles 7 times. His highest singles ranking was No. 1 player in Canada and reached No. 210 in the world, achieved in June 1976. In August 2006, Power was inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame.

Dale was also a skilled hockey player. In 1969, he was drafted by the Montreal Canadians after playing OHL for the St. Catherines Blackhawks and the Peterborough Petes. He quit hockey for four years to accept a tennis scholarship at Oklahoma City University but then returned to play for the Fort Wayne Komets in 1974-75' where he lead the team in scoring 29 goals and 78 pts, an outstanding accomplishment after not touching the ice for such a stretch. In 1975 Dale decided to return to tennis and the rest is history.

Anyone who meets Dale is immediately charmed by his gentle nature, curiosity, clever humor, and epic storytelling. A man with a simple code, do good by all, Dale is a man of honour who has a great passion for life. On behalf of Dale, thank you for your generosity and support. Funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward his care and daily living. Regular updates will be posted on this platform and we welcome you to share your thoughts and words of encouragement.

"Thank you for the great memories, let's keep making more." - Dale Power

This campaign is co-authored and organized by Sarah Power and Todd Littlefield.