Valerie Rose Simon

My name is Valerie Rose, and I'm a sixteen-year-old from Florida. I've made my mark on the world not just through my powerful forehand on the tennis court, but through my determination to make a difference. I rose quickly to become a top-ranked junior national tennis player, but my dreams were suddenly derailed by multiple bone fractures and misdiagnoses. Instead of letting these challenges define me, I chose to rise above them. That's how Serve for Strength was born—a charity Pickleball Tournament at Saddlebrook Resort, with all proceeds going to help children who need life-changing bone surgeries. The titanium pins in my body are symbols of my strength and resilience. I like to think of myself as Supergirl, knowing that with every step I take, I'm defying the odds. Together, we can make the world a better place, one serve at a time.