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The Duke's 365 Day Pickleball Challenge To Support The Alzheimer's Association RI Chapter

By The Duke Join Me

Join The Duke's 365 Day Pickleball Challenge To Support The Alzheimer's Association RI Chapter!

In honor of my Dad A.G. I am playing pickleball for 365 straight days! Be a member of the royal court and sponsor daily! I am matching the first $10,000 donated and if I miss a day, I am personally donating $500! There will also be a Grand Fundraiser Event, stay tuned for date and details! This event will be ticketed and details are coming soon!


All donations are tax deductible so don't be a dink, join the challenge!

- Sponsor at $0.50 A Day and also receive a limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

- Sponsor at $1.50 A Day and receive 1 ticket to the December 5th Grand Fundraiser Event and the limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

- Sponsor at $3.50 A Day and receive 2 tickets to the December 5th Grand Fundraiser Event and the limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

- Or sponsor at any amount of your choice!

* All One Time Gifts of $100 or more will also receive the limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

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Check out my sponsorship package options: https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/theduke#section-sponsorship-packages
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Day 200 Event

The Duke is having a 70's themed tournament! Must purchase tickets one at a time, to purchase a second ticket re-enter info and checkout again!

RSVP for the event

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$27,650

My Goal

$50,000

Select amount to donate

$35
$50
$100
$350
$
Donate

Thank you to all our supporters

$10k

Top supporter

The Duke Garabedian

May 08, 2026

We did it ! We made the $10,000 goal and I just matched $10,000 ! What an exciting day ! Thank you for all the support ! The Duke

$1.83k

Top supporter

Passport Automotive And Collision

Apr 30, 2026

Great job Duke!

$1.28k

Top supporter

Don Borders

May 29, 2026

keep it going Duke !

$1.28k

Top supporter

Michael Denci

May 21, 2026

Duke, you are a great ambassador for pickleball and for Alzheimer’s! Congrats on making it 100 days and thank you for the great celebration yesterday!! You are the best!! Keep it up!!

$1.28k

Top supporter

Christine Raffa Yoga

May 05, 2026

Everything is better with Relaxation !! Go Duke Go !! Great cause ……..

$1.2k

Top supporter

Lisa Garabedian Regan

Mar 27, 2026

$548

Top supporter

Craig Bilodeau

May 27, 2026

Good man, good cause, good luck!

$548

Top supporter

Tom Simjian

May 10, 2026

Great cause buddy, can’t wait for the final party! 🎾

$548

Top supporter

Carol Simjian

May 10, 2026

Great cause! Keep up the good work Duke!!

$548

Top supporter

Fotini M. Dionisopoulos D.m.d.

May 08, 2026

Thank you for honoring your father and the man who is such an important part of my life. He will always inspire me every day of my life. I have been blessed with such a special Uncle.

$548

Top supporter

Albert Divenuti

May 07, 2026

I have that special fund on the side in case you fail to complete Go Duke

$500

Top supporter

David Allen

May 11, 2026

$500

Top supporter

Mary Shekarchi

Mar 31, 2026

$500

Top supporter

Michael Bucci

May 07, 2026

Happy to contribute to a great cause!

$350

Top supporter

Don Borders

Mar 11, 2026

Wishing you all the best in reaching your goal for such a great cause we know you can do this ! Bag man and Lady Lyn

$350

Top supporter

Ralph Kinder

May 26, 2026

Go get ‘em for Aram (and my mother!)

$350

Top supporter

Steven Monacelli

Mar 20, 2026

Gary, great cause

$350

Top supporter

Gary Garabedian

Mar 19, 2026

$350

Top supporter

Mark Brennan

Mar 31, 2026

Gary, I am so proud to be able to participate for you AND YOUR DAD !! Your family … is MY family ! Mark

$250

Top supporter

Terry Biafore

Mar 31, 2026

Good Luck Duke!! Great cause

$250

Top supporter

John Greim

May 07, 2026

Keep it going!!

$250

Top supporter

David Williams

Jun 17, 2026

Duke!! Great cause great idea. My full support LFG! Can’t wait til 200 then 365 war of attrition, showing a lot of heart and passion I get down with that!

$200

Top supporter

Marvin Gordon

May 20, 2026

$200

Top supporter

Lab Spec Inc.

Apr 07, 2026

$183

Top supporter

Dr Mark

Apr 15, 2026

The play’s the thing Wherein I will someday play pickleball With the Duke

$183

Top supporter

Lynne Eaglex

Apr 12, 2026

What a nice gesture for your dad. Happy to support your cause

$183

Top supporter

Joshua Teverow

Apr 30, 2026

$183

Top supporter

Alan & Karen

May 06, 2026

Keep up the good work!

$183

Top supporter

Paul Zarrella

Jun 02, 2026

$183

Top supporter

Stephen Fasano

Jun 16, 2026

Go Duke!

$172

Top supporter

David Lenter

Mar 25, 2026

$172

Top supporter

David Berg

Mar 27, 2026

Duke, great what you are doing! Eat more candy!

$100

Top supporter

M.j. Miniati

Jun 23, 2026

This is AWESOME DUKE😎❣️

$100

Top supporter

Lyn Borders

Jun 18, 2026

$100

Top supporter

Don Borders

Jun 18, 2026

$100

Top supporter

Mark Brice

Jun 18, 2026

Bringing my A game!!

$100

Top supporter

Sherry J Brice

Jun 18, 2026

$100

Top supporter

The Duke Garabedian

Jun 17, 2026

Go go go

$100

Top supporter

John Connors

Jun 18, 2026

Thanks for doing this.

$100

Top supporter

John Connors

Jun 18, 2026

Hi Duke, sounds like a great event. Looking forward to playing. My wife is also going to join. Should be a lot of fun. Keep up the great work for Alzheimer’s. JC

$100

Top supporter

John Connors

Jun 18, 2026

Hi Duke, sounds like a great event. Looking forward to playing. My wife is also going to join. Should be a lot of fun. Keep up the great work for Alzheimer’s. JC

$100

Top supporter

Finbarr Murray

Apr 04, 2026

Well done Duke Always great playing with you

$100

Top supporter

Beth Tasca

Mar 31, 2026

$100

Top supporter

Harry Walker Iii

Apr 04, 2026

Keep up the good work!

$100

Top supporter

Ben Aubee

Mar 31, 2026

Go get em, Duke!

$100

Top supporter

Mark Brice

Apr 06, 2026

Keep the faith!

$100

Top supporter

Ronald And Barbara Goldsmith

Apr 06, 2026

$100

Top supporter

Jeff Murad

Apr 16, 2026

Go get ‘em Duke!

$100

Top supporter

Jim Burton

Mar 31, 2026

$100

Top supporter

Phillip Halford

May 02, 2026

$100

Top supporter

David Hill

Mar 31, 2026

$50

Top supporter

Chuck Goldsmith

Mar 20, 2026

Great Cause keep up the great pickle ball schedule daily very healthy thing. Good luck thinking ofAG 😍🎺☀️

$50

Top supporter

Adam Stone

May 07, 2026

$50

Top supporter

Ruthie Corcoran

Mar 31, 2026

$50

Top supporter

Leon Ye

Jun 13, 2026

Duke, admire your passion and devotion. Go Duke!

$50

Top supporter

David Bertolino

Mar 20, 2026

Good luck Gumba

$35

Top supporter

Anonymous

Mar 31, 2026

Go Dad! You can do it!

$20

Top supporter

Gary Garabedian

Mar 04, 2026
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My achievements

First Donation
First Donation

First Donation

Raised 25%
Raised 25%

Raised 25%

Raised 50%
Raised 50%

Raised 50%

Raised 75%
Raised 75%

Raised 75%

Reached Goal
Reached Goal

Reached goal

My Updates

200th Day Celebration - Stayin' Alive 70's Theme Event

Wednesday 17th Jun
The Duke is celebrating 200 straight days of playing pickleball with a Stayin' Alive 70's themed event! Tickets for the event are $100 per person and include admission to the round robin style pickleball tournament, dinner, disco, and a DJ! The event will take place at Newport Pickleball on Friday August 28th at 6pm. To purchase tickets scroll up on this page to DAY 200 EVENT and hit RSVP FOR THE EVENT. Then just fill in your contact info and hit continue to donation and fill in your credit card info to make your $100 donation to the event. For questions on the event, reach out to the Duke at gbg@blissproperties.net

Check out The Duke being interviewed by Gene Valicenti

Tuesday 19th May
Check out The Duke being interviewed by Gene Valicenti at the link below! The Duke talks about playing pickleball for 365 days straight, honoring his dad, Aram Garabedian, and the correlation between how playing pickleball can boost brain health and help to lower your risk of dementia.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-news-with-gene-valicenti/5-18-26-gary-garabedian

In Honor of My Dad Aram G. Garabedian

Thursday 26th Mar
The Duke’s Alzheimer’s Pickleball Challenge is in honor of my dad A.G. 

My dad is a native Rhode Islander and has been a pillar of the Rhode Island community. His drive, determination, humanitarianism, and qualities of leadership have greatly enriched present-day Rhode Island. 

He has served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, the Rhode Island Senate, and the Cranston City Council, of which he was president from 2005 to 2008. 

In his city service, he led the charge to create a state wide law mandating that children attend kindergarten and enter kindergarten at a uniform age. He also sought and obtained the funding for the Cranston Vocational School which is a valued treasure in Cranston to this day. 

In his state service, my dad sponsored laws compelling landlords to pay interest on security deposits and requiring schools to provide low fat milk so students could enjoy healthy lunches. He also secured the passage of the “Genocide and Human Rights Education Law” which mandates that students learn about the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the Irish Famine, and other recognized human rights violations. 

He has been actively involved in a myriad of community causes and public service endeavors. Most notably he served on the boards of the Rhode Island Red Cross and Meals on Wheels and assisted and sponsored many other organizations such as International Institute, Dorcas Place, Harmony Hill School, the Western Cranston Little League, and Genesis Center. He also joined forces with General Reginald Centracchio and his committee to renew efforts to raise funds needed to complete the long awaited World War II Veterans Monument in Providence. He stated “it was imperative that Rhode Island honor those who made the supreme sacrifice.” 

I am honored to continue my dad A.G.’s legacy of leadership and humanitarianism. 

How Playing Pickleball Can Boost Brain Health and Help to Lower Your Risk Of Dementia

Thursday 26th Mar
Experts agree that having a healthy brain is imperative. There are many things you can do to keep your brain healthy from eating healthy foods to playing memory games. But there is one daily practice that is often overlooked, daily exercise. 

Getting daily exercise doing an activity such as playing pickleball can lower your risk of getting Alzheimer’s or another dementia. The Pointer Study is an excellent example of this. The Pointer Study is an Alzheimer’s Association funded 2 year clinical trial that found structured lifestyle interventions - diet, exercise, social, and cognitive engagement significantly improve brain health in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. One of the sites for this study was right here in Rhode Island at Butler Hospital. 

But there are specific activities that additionally lower your risk for Alzheimer’s and other dementia as well as Parkinson’s and pickleball is one of these activities! Not only is pickleball a great sport but it also uses hand coordination and give’s social and cognitive engagement. Hand eye coordination gets worse as we age but by playing racket sports like pickleball can improve this as the speed of the ball moving is challenging. 

The largest age bracket of pickleball players has been found to be 55 and up since 2021 as the social aspect of pickleball is a huge draw to the sport. As we age we tend to be less active and socially engaged which we know is vital to brain health. By participating in pickleball you are being active, and socially and cognitively engaged. 

So join the Duke’s Alzheimer’s Pickleball Challenge and improve your brain health today!


Sponsor Packages

$183

Royal Court $0.50 A Day Sponsor

The Duke is playing pickleball for 365 straight days! Sponsor the Duke for $0.50 a day for a total donation of $182.50 and you will receive a limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

$548

Royal Court $1.50 A Day Sponsor

The Duke is playing pickleball for 365 straight days! Sponsor the Duke for $1.50 a day for a total donation of $547.50 and you will receive 1 ticket to the Early 2027 Grand Event and a limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

$1,278

Royal Court $3.50 A Day Sponsor

The Duke is playing pickleball for 365 straight days! Sponsor the Duke for $3.50 a day for a total donation of $1,277.50 and you will receive 2 tickets to the Early 2027 Grand Event and a limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

$1,825

Royal Court $5.00 A Day Sponsor

The Duke is playing pickleball for 365 straight days! Sponsor the Duke for $5.00 a day for a total donation of $1,825 and you will receive 3 tickets to the Early 2027 Grand Event and a limited edition Royal Court T-shirt!

The above event (“Event”) is a third-party fundraiser being held for the Alzheimer’s Association ("Association"). These sponsorships only apply to the Event. 100% of the fee that a donor pays for a listed sponsorship package becomes a non-refundable, direct donation to the Association, for which the Association will issue the donor a receipt. Other than this donation, the donor’s sponsorship of the Event creates no relationship of any kind between the Association and the donor; the Association will provide no goods or services to the donor for the donation.

The Event is not organized, managed or operated by the Association; it is organized, managed and operated by the noted fundraiser. Any recognition, benefits or promotional value associated with a sponsorship package is the sole responsibility of the fundraiser, and questions, arrangements or concerns regarding them are between the fundraiser and donor.