SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY
  • DESTINATIONS

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating active adults to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • How to Get Involved
    • NSGA Showcase Video
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • 30th Anniversary
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How To Qualify
    • National Games Information
    • NSG Cup presented by Kohler Walk-In Bath
    • 2023 NSG Pittsburgh
    • Athlete Check-In
    • Registration
    • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
    • Competition Schedules
    • Results & Records
    • Special Events
    • Team Partner Finder
    • Tourist Information
    • Transportation & Parking
    • Hotels & Lodging
    • Venue Information
    • Volunteer for the Games
    • Limited Events Verification Form
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • SPORTS
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Pickleball
      • Powerwalk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • NON-AMBULATORY SPORTS
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • TEAM SPORTS
      • Basketball
      • Beach Volleyball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
    • Get In Shape With Ageility
    • Zibrio Health and Well-Being
    • Heartline Study
    • Falls Prevention Resources
    • NSGA Steps Challenge
    • Exercise & Well-Being Resources
    • Humana Healthy Living and Prevention Resources
    • Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) & Games Ready
    • Fitness Videos
    • ACE Training Tips
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • MEDIA
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Games Videos
    • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Newsletter
    • Press Room
    • Athlete of the Month
    • Personal Best Features
'22 RESULTS BOOK
ORDER HERE
 July 4, 2022

“I’m fighting hard to get back on the court” October 2021 Athlete of the Month

“I’m fighting hard to get back on the court” October 2021 Athlete of the Month

by Del Moon / Friday, 01 October 2021 / Published in Athlete of the Month

Louise Jones, 77, San Marino, California

When Louise Jones found Senior Games basketball in 2010, she had already recently overcome a bout with breast cancer. She was looking forward, enjoying the active life traveling and competing with her Cougars Gold team through four National Senior Games. Then came the bad news.

“I was disease free for ten years, but it came back in 2019,” she says.

Determined to not let it stop her, the mother of four still played at the Games in Albuquerque while being treated for stage 4 breast cancer. Since then, treatments have continued and she currently needs the assistance of a wheelchair. But she reports she is stable, her scans look better with decreasing numbers, and she’s nowhere near throwing in the towel.

“I’m fighting hard to get back on the court,” she says resolutely. “It will always be with me, but there’s some great medications out there and more coming all the time, so I’m hopeful.”

Playing senior basketball has made up for lost opportunities in the past. “When I was young there was no such thing as Title IX, so there were no teams for girls,” she explains. “I was tomboyish and loved to run and jump, climb trees and tiptoe on people’s fence tops.”

After earning a doctorate degree from UCLA and starting a family, Louise played tennis and then started running in the ‘70s for adult recreation. She later picked up weightlifting in 2005, but basketball did not enter her life until after her first breast cancer diagnosis in 2008. The surgery, chemo and radiation treatments were effective. “They felt that they got it all, so technically I was in remission,” she recalls. “But breast cancer is a sneaky bugger. It can go dormant and live in your bloodstream for years until something wakes it up.”

Feeling well in 2010, she attended a meeting about Senior Games. “I’m six feet tall, so there was a lot of interest in getting me into basketball. Some of us got together and we eventually had enough for a senior team. We’re really grateful to the Pasadena Senior Center for their support helping us with practice facilities and everything.”

Cougars Gold L to R: Athleen Novak, Markie Molina, Louise Jones and Sue Patterson.

The next year, getting ready for her first National Senior Games in Houston, Louise had a poignant moment when the team’s uniforms came in. “I never had a sport uniform,” she explains. “I tried it on and almost cried, I was so excited to actually see myself in a uniform with a number.”

Louise also found that she had skills to go with her height. Asked if she is a good shooter, she replies, “I’m good enough that the other guys don’t like me getting the ball anywhere near the basket! But I really love to play defense. It makes me happy to stand there with my hands up and have some skinny guard turn around, say ‘Oh’ and pass the ball out!”

The future is uncertain, but as in 2019, Louise says the disease is not going to keep her from going to Fort Lauderdale to be with her team next May. “If I can’t play, I’ll coach. But I’m going to be there with my team.”

Louise wants her experience to help others be diligent with monitoring their health. “One in three women see breast cancer come back, and then it’s stage 4,” she says. “If I could give a message to women now, it would be that yes, early breast cancer can be cured, but you have to be alert and never let your guard down for the rest of your life. And never lose hope.”

 

Editor’s Note: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 

  • Tweet

About Del Moon

What you can read next

Meatless Meets: A Vegan’s Perspective April 2020 Athlete of the Month
“Leaps of Faith” May 2021 Athlete of the Month
Joe Moyer’s “Hardest Triathlon” Overcomes Life Challenges July 2020 Athlete of the Month

Recent Posts

  • Leading by Example – July 2022 Athlete of the Month

    Lynn Roman, 52 Baden, Pennsylvania Lynn Roman s...
  • The Long Run – June 2022

    Game On! A Reunion Like No Other! The 2022 Nati...
  • “Jamaica Bob” Blends Music and Sport with Spirit June 2022 Athlete of the Month

    Bob Griffiths, 62, Riverside, California “Don’t...
  • Pacira Biosciences NSGA Guinness World Records for Largest Game of Freeze Dance

    ...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Memorial Fund
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA E-Newsletter and General Interest E-Mail Sign Up

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2022 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
2023 National Senior Games - July 7-18, 2023 367 Days 15 Hours 13 Minutes 27 Seconds