Second annual ladies charity table tennis tournament in Milton Keynes: £650 and more than 100 bras for the community

On September 6, Milton Keynes Table Tennis Centre became the meeting point for 14 women who love table tennis. The second annual ladies charity tournament at the centre was not part of the WTT or ITTF system, nor did it feature any professional players. However, from a community sports perspective, it offers a valuable model that many sports centres around the world could learn from. Julie Snowdon, a Table Tennis England staff member and secretary of the centre, organised the tournament. She handled registration, draws and event management, but she also served as a bridge connecting local women in a space of their own. For her, rackets are just a tool; what matters is helping women feel safe, welcomed and encouraged to keep playing. Most of the participants regularly attended the centre's monthly ladies-only sessions, which are open to all levels. Because of that, the tournament had a friendly atmosphere and the players already knew each other. This was not a one-off event; it was the visible part of a community that had been maintained over time. The format reflected the community spirit. Fourteen players were divided into groups and played two rounds. After the group stage, the best players advanced to the main draw, while the others entered a consolation final. This ensured that everyone played several matches and nobody left feeling that their participation was meaningless. Organisers stressed fun and fair play above everything else. From a technical standpoint, the event offered almost no data for analysis. There were no serve-winning statistics, no long-rally percentages, no ranking head-to-head numbers. But judging the event purely by technical depth would miss a bigger message. Table tennis is not only about champions and rankings. It can also connect women of all ages, promote physical health and build healthy social networks. The most memorable highlight was the £650 raised. The amount was donated to Breast Cancer Now, a British charity supporting people affected by breast cancer. For a local table tennis centre, £650 is not a small sum. It came from entry fees, contributions from families and friends, and donations from well-wishers. Every pound was a message of encouragement to women fighting illness. The event also combined fundraising with recycling. More than 100 used bras were brought by players and spectators. Instead of being thrown away, they were sent to Against Breast Cancer for recycling. Through the scheme, every donated bra generates a small payment to breast cancer research. In one morning, those involved in the tournament improved their health, helped the environment and supported medical research. That is a creative approach that many Vietnamese sports clubs may wish to follow. This tournament operates outside national and international competition systems. But staying away from ranking pressure gives organisers space to be creative. They do not need to worry about athlete eligibility or complicated competition rules. They only need a meaningful goal, a group of willing women and a familiar venue. In an era of increasingly intense high-performance table tennis, this model raises an interesting question: should we build a healthy playing community before hunting for champions? Milton Keynes is not necessarily looking for young talents. What they are doing is creating a habit: every time the calendar comes around, women pick up their rackets, play together, share stories and raise funds. Once that habit exists, a centre can then expand junior classes, discover future seeds and gradually form a grassroots structure. Compared with high-profile tournaments, this event had no packed stands. There were no coaching staff, no data analysts sitting by the court. But simplicity creates genuine emotion. A middle-aged woman who started playing a year ago can feel just as happy winning a group-stage match as a national champion. Another who loses three matches may still leave with a smile because she knows that her entry fee and donated bra are helping another woman fight cancer. The tournament also shows the importance of a key figure such as Julie Snowdon. She has links with Table Tennis England, works at the centre and understands the needs of local women. Because of such a connector, the event does not simply end. The centre keeps the ladies' sessions running and spreads the message. For Vietnamese sports centres, designating a community coordinator is essential. A district table tennis club can organise a similar charity event if it has someone willing to take charge. There is little information to measure this tournament in the usual way. But one number proves the health of the grassroots movement: a small centre can still gather 14 women on a Saturday morning and raise £650. The number of bras collected even exceeded expectations. That suggests this was not a single event but the result of years of building a community. Looking ahead, the centre announced the next ladies-only session will take place on November 1 from 10 am to 12 pm. It will be an open opportunity for women who have never tried the sport before. Julies Just Giving page also remains open for donations to Breast Cancer Now. A match lasts only one morning, but charitable spirit and the habit of playing can last all year. Are we too accustomed to measuring sport through medals, rankings and transfer fees? The Milton Keynes tournament offers a different view. There, applause after every match is not only for an impressive backhand but also for ordinary women who are willing to step out of their comfort zones, pick up a racket and do something useful for their community. Perhaps that is the greatest victory a local table tennis tournament can claim.