When Perry and Kelli Clark discovered their son, Wells, had cystic fibrosis, they decided to do everything possible to fight the disease.
That has meant nine years of organizing walk-a-thons, appealing to people for money, making speeches and attending fundraising galas.
This weekend, the Clarks got creative with their fundraising efforts. They organized The Wellsy Open, a platform-tennis marathon that ended yesterday at 10 p.m. The 37-hour marathon began Friday at 9 a.m.
Perry Clark took one of the late-night shifts. He started a match at midnight on the courts at Old Town Club and played until 1:30 a.m., when temperatures were scheduled to dip into the low 40s.
"We have some die-hards," Kelli Clark said.
Platform tennis is a racket sport that is similar to tennis. It is played on a court that is one-fourth of the size of a tennis court, with two players on each side of the net. The courts are surrounded by tight fencing, which allows for balls to be played off the walls.
The equipment is such that it is best played outdoors in cool weather. Perry Clark, who grew up playing the sport, said that heat gives the sponge-rubber ball too much bounce.
Platform tennis is popular in New England, although there are pockets of interest in the sport throughout the country.
The Clarks corralled about 75 people to play. Many were to play multiple matches to ensure that a match was going on for 37 hours. The number 37 is significant because that is the life expectancy of someone with cystic fibrosis.
Wells, 9, is a third-grader at Jefferson Elementary School. He was 3 weeks old when his parents learned he had cystic fibrosis, a chronic disease that causes the body to produce excessive amounts of mucus, which can clog the lungs and lead to life-threatening infections. The mucus also blocks the pancreas' ability to absorb food.
About 30,000 people in the United States have the disease, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The disease has no cure, but people can take medications and take steps to alleviate the symptoms.
In Wells' case, two or three times a day, he wears a vibrating vest that loosens the mucus in his lungs.
"When he gets a cold or the flu, it's 10 times what it is for you and me," Perry Clark said.
Wells also uses inhalants and takes 11 different kinds of medication that help his digestion and weight gain.
Wells is an active boy who likes to play soccer and basketball. Exercise is encouraged because it helps keep the airways clear, Kelli Clark said.
He was at school and a sleep-over yesterday but plans to play a little platform tennis today.
Since Wells' diagnosis, the Clarks have raised about $500,000 for cystic fibrosis. This weekend's marathon brought in more than $5,000. Each player agreed to pay $75 to participate.
"We decided one thing we were not going to do was sit on the sidelines," Perry Clark said about he and his wife's decision to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis.
lo'donnell@wsjournal.com
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