The Robert Morris’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is serving up more than just some competition this fall.

On Friday, Nov. 7th, the organization will host, ‘Serve Up a Curve’, a pickleball tournament aimed at raising awareness and funds for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) research.

The event is far more than a sports competition. It’s also a student-led awareness campaign sparked by personal connection. Last year, the organization noticed that across RMU campus, there weren’t many individuals who seemed to be knowledgeable about Type 1 diabetes.

“We asked ourselves what a good philanthropy would be and collectively,” PRSSA President Halle McLaughlin says, “There are a lot of students and faculty that might have Type 1 diabetes, so we want to raise awareness for them”.

After coming to that conclusion, Taylor Roberts, the Vice President of PRSSA, got in contact with the Breakthrough T1D organization. The organization’s focus is to conduct research and advocacy for Type 1 diabetes, aiming to improve lives and find a cure.

“I think this event reflects to show that PRSSA has awareness for others and we’re tailored to have diversity for all and we want to be inclusive of everyone,” McLaughlin says.

While PRSSA has held a variety of events in the past, this one is different. After contributing to the Bateman competition – a yearly competition in which public relations students are tasked to create a campaign – McLaughlin felt as though planning a campaign event outside of the competition had potential to benefit more than just the PRSSA members. She asked herself what is something she could provide that the classroom doesn’t.

“Not everyone who is in PRSSA is a public relations major…being a part of the Bateman case study made me want to do something like this even more just so others could get a grasp on event planning itself and putting together a whole campaign.”

McLaughlin felt as though this event would not only benefit students, but also another organization.

“I think people should come out because they’re supporting a good cause and it’s a way to participate in a light activity. It’s just a fun way to gain more information, meet more people, and see how students can come up with an awareness campaign,” McLaughlin says.

The event will take place on Friday, Nov. 7th at 6pm at the RMU campus recreation center. Doors will open at 5:30 for check in and warmups. To sign up for the event, you can email Halle McLaughlin ([email protected]), direct message the RMU PRSSA Instagram, or check out the event on RMU Revolution. It is $10 per team or $6 per individual participant. Join PRSSA and the RMU pickleball team for refreshments, raffle baskets, and fun!

All proceeds will go to the Western and Central Pennsylvania Breakthrough T1D Chapter.