WHADDA RACKET!: Several years ago Bob Barczewski and Mark Platt put their goals and their game together and came up with "Rally Tennis for Cancer Care," which helps cancer patients pay their personal bills.

The group's recent fundraiser at Frontenac Tennis Club attracted about 150 tennis players and raised $30,000 for the Siteman Cancer Center Division of Oncology at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Barczewski, director of business operations for the Siteman center, said 100 percent of the proceeds from the rally go to the patients. He said some of them face serious financial difficulties as a result of their diseases.

"We've paid rent, kept the gas and electric on, paid their copays, their COBRA insurance ... These are tragic situations that can blindside people and throw them and their families' lives in chaos," Barczewski said.

Mark Platt owns Beginners' World Tennis. His company organizes recreational and formal tennis leagues and provides instruction to individuals and to local high schools and colleges.

Barczewski had played tennis in some of Platt's venues and about six years ago, the two came up with the plan to use Platt's "rally tennis" concept to help raise money for cancer patients.

The concept puts eight or more players on a doubles team, and players rotate in and out quickly. According to Platt, "It's fun, fast and easy."

Along with the tennis, Barczewski said the Siteman center staff "was very creative in raffling gift baskets, getting restaurant deals, and soliciting donations from local businesses to raise this money."

Event coordinators included Anne Rihanek, David Evans, Joyce Divanbeigi, Platt and Barczewski. Dr. John DiPersio, an oncologist with the cancer center, also participated.