My name is Bryan Klein.  I am the Director of Sandia Mountain Volleyball Classic, a Pro/Am tournament held annually in Albuquerque.

    This tournament was founded by the late Sonny Marquez and will continue to be held in his memory. His love for beach volleyball and his dream for creating a marquee event here in Albuquerque will power this event for many years to come.

     The first year, the tournament was held to bring top level, 2 on 2 beach volleyball to our home state so local players didn’t have to travel out of state to find stiff competition. In the second year of the tournament, we focused on selling out the event by maximizing team participation, and were able to do so after such a successful tournament the first year. The last three years we saw capacity turnouts, and continued to enhance the depth of talent, as well as the player experience.

Shortly after the 2008 tournament Sonny was diagnosed with a Basal Cell Adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary gland, a very rare Cancer of the head and neck. This was the beginning of an eventful and uncertain future for him. After a series of CT scans and a trip to UCLA Medical Center, it was determined he needed surgery to remove a tumor from his nasal cavity, and another to remove a tumor in his lymph nodes. Six weeks of radiation followed. This was one of the most difficult and challenging experiences of his life.

     He was diagnosed with cancer in June of 2008, completed his final treatments in October, and went back to work in November. He had had to miss work due to appointments, surgeries, treatments, and the added stress of battling a deadly disease. Many others have to deal with the same issues, and he believed they shouldn’t have to struggle with their finances in the same manner.

    In 2022, the 15th Annual Sandia Mountain Volleyball Classic will once again be dedicated to survivors and those battling cancer. We have teamed up with the New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves cancer patients who receive care at their New Mexico centers. The New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation is dedicated to supporting their patients non-medical needs during their battle against cancer. They establish assistance and educational programs to meet the financial, emotional and psychological needs of patients. I hope as a sponsor you join us to help those battle the ultimate battle!