For A Good Cause:

Fitness director Howard Dell joked that while getting into the Newport Beach Tennis Club is a challenge, it’s nothing compared to trying to get a liver transplant.

Unfortunately, Dell, 45, has earned the right to joke.

After undergoing what he described as “pride swallowing” medical tests two years ago, the world-class athlete and former Olympian learned he had Wilson’s disease, a rare and terminal disease where life-threatening levels of copper accumulate in the liver.

When the liver is working the way it should, copper is absorbed in manageable amounts through foods like mushrooms, nuts and chocolate. Excess copper is normally excreted through bile produced in the liver, but with Wilson’s disease, Dell explained, the liver doesn’t function properly, so the body hoardes copper, and the results are deadly.

Newport Beach Tennis Club owner Steve Joyce, who hired Dell as fitness director five years ago, said he didn’t realize his friend was sick until recently.

“I noticed something was wrong because Howard was real quiet all the time,” he said, and then Dell finally opened up about what he was going through and how sick he was.

Adding up were the costs for alternative treatments he was getting in New Zealand, massive quantities of prescribed medications and travel not covered by insurance.

But asking for help was not something the former professional athlete, Olympic bobsledder, actor and musician was comfortable doing.

He wanted to be Superman and take on the world himself.

When it came to Dell, though, people didn’t need to be asked.

Joyce said that’s what friends are for. He rallied the tennis community and held a benefit fundraiser for Dell at the club on New Year’s Eve that raised more than $12,000 — money that went directly to Dell to help him with those medical costs.

Julia Cohen, director of membership and marketing for the tennis club, helped organize the party, which included a silent auction.

She described Dell as an inspiration.

“The club received so many donations from the community for the silent auction. It was a compliment and a testament to Howard,” Cohen said.

Next up is a Pro-Am tournament and Round Robin benefit event the tennis club is hosting for Dell Feb. 2.

“This tournament is about helping make people aware of Howard’s condition,” Cohen said.