Cancer Survivor Brings Pickleball to Papua New Guinea

When Mark Palm was going through chemotherapy for B-cell lymphoma, he had one thing to look forward to: getting outside to play pickleball. By day three after each brutal five-day treatment cycle, he'd drag himself to the court, using the sport he loved as his anchor through the darkest days of his life.

But Palm didn't just survive cancer. He turned his second chance into a mission that's saving thousands of lives halfway around the world.

As CEO of Samaritan Aviation, Palm runs a medical life flight program in Papua New Guinea that transforms three-day journeys to the hospital into one-hour flights. For over 200,000 people living in some of the world's most isolated communities, his planes are the difference between life and death.

The idea came during a visit to Papua New Guinea, where Palm witnessed people dying while trying to reach the only hospitals serving their vast region. The remote communities faced journeys of three to five days just to get basic medical care.

"I saw a need there," Palm says. "People were dying trying to get to the only hospitals."

His organization now provides emergency medical flights that turn multi-day treks into quick trips. What once meant certain death for many now means hope.

And Palm brought something else to these remote villages: the joy of pickleball. He's introduced the sport to communities where people had never held a paddle or played organized sports.

"What an amazing thing to go into a community and offer something fun that the whole community can do," he says. "It's a fun sport that brings people together."

The Ripple Effect

Palm's story shows how personal healing can spark global change. The same sport that gave him hope during chemotherapy is now bringing joy to isolated communities in Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, his life flight program continues expanding, turning what seemed impossible into routine rescues.

This week, Palm is competing at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, playing doubles alongside his son. He's cherishing every moment of memories he once feared he'd never make.

During his fourth round of chemo, Palm wasn't sure he'd survive to see his daughter graduate high school. Now he's not just watching his children grow up but building a legacy that spans continents.

From cancer patient to championship competitor to life-saving innovator, Palm proves that second chances are meant to be shared.