For the first time ever, Kamloops will host its own Hoopfest 2024, an adapted basketball fundraiser taking place at the Tournament Capital Centre on Oct. 25.
Hoopfest is a celebration of Wheelchair Basketball. Corporate and community players participate in a fun evening that includes a wheelchair basketball tournament, dinner and raffle prizes. The event has taken place in Vancouver for 25 years.
Since 1994, Hoopfest has been the largest annual fundraiser for the BC Wheelchair Basketball Society. This year’s event is being overseen by the Kamloops Adapted Sports Association (KASA).
While KASA mainly revolves around wheelchair basketball, it also offers other wheelchair sports, including Tennis, Rugby, Hockey, and Curling.
According to Canada’s Policy on Sports for Persons with a Disability, adapted sports help strengthen communities, contributing to the overall quality of life. Making these sports accessible is key to enhancing the reach they might get.
Dan Coombs, the association’s president, has been a part of the group for 15 years, having joined the association to connect with a friend in a wheelchair.
KASA has been working on bringing Hoopfest to Kamloops for some time but has had issues attracting teams to participate. This year, there will be 10 teams.
“For years, we’ve struggled with numbers,” Coombs said. “We’d see three or four people come out on a Thursday night, and now we’re upwards of 19 to 20 per night. It’s important to make everything inclusive.”
Their goal this year is to raise enough money to purchase sports wheelchairs. Each participating team paid a $750 entry fee, but donations will be accepted throughout the tournament.
“It’ll be fun to watch,” Coombs said. “I would say 99 percent of the participating players have never played before or have even been in a wheelchair, so it will be entertaining to see that.”
Hoopfest and KASA have received help from local business donors to put together the tournament. The Valhalla SmokeHouse, Beem Credit Union, WorkSafe BC, Fulton, and National Seating & Mobility are among the sponsors.
The event will also feature a beer garden for those over 19 and a diner. The tournament will begin at 5 p.m.
For more information on their open practice schedule or any other event, visit their Facebook page.