Sports Traider Charity Drives Olympic and Paralympic Legacy

On Sunday 15th September, the iconic Queen Elizabeth Park venue, the Copper Box Arena will throw open its doors for the first ever Hoops Aid Celebrity Basketball Game.

Keeping the Olympic legacy alive, Hoops Aid, dreamt up by Lance Haggith, aims to raise money for charities dedicated to encouraging as many young, disadvantaged and disabled people into sport as possible – an aim supported by the host of celebrities, professional players, sporting heroes and military heroes coming together for this exciting event. Join them for this great day of sporting action and fun and help raise funds for a worthwhile cause.

Professional players from the British Basketball League (BBL) and Team GB Basketball team including Leicester Riders Star, BBL MVP & GB Basketball Captain Drew Sullivanand Ex GB Womens Captain, Julie Pagewill join a mix of sporting icons including NBA star Marcus Camby, Olympic Gold Medalist Philips Idowu, Ex Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, John Regis MBE and celebrities such as ‘Made in Chelsea Star’ Hugo Taylor, ‘Ex Boyzone Singer’ Shane Lynch in an entertaining all star game of basketball. Organisers are expecting a whole host of celebrities to also be in attendance on the day. For a full list of current celebs and stars playing visit, www.hoopsaid.org.

There will also be the chance to watch an exhibition wheelchair basketball match involving GB Basketball Paralympians  members and former soldiers supported by ‘Battle Back’ the inspirational injured soldiers’ charity. In addition to this basketball bonanza there will be a further community basketball game, a Slam Dunk contest, live performances from rapper EckSell, up and coming bands Kassoma and Alfee, the Leyton Orient Cheerleaders and much more!

Hoops Aid organiser Lance Haggith, founder of charity Sports Traider and previously BBC Sports Unsung Hero 2010 said: “Hoops Aid will be a wonderful celebration of sport. My aim for the day is to ensure everyone goes home smiling, having had a great day and having enjoyed themselves immensely and been inspired by what they have seen.   “I launched the idea because I wanted to keep the momentum going generated by the Olympics where a nation was united. Many opinions were changed about sport and disabilities and barriers broken down at the Paralympics where we watched sport not disability. Hoops Aid as well as being great entertainment, will demonstrate how sport is accessible whether you are able-bodied or disabled.”

Peter Bundey, Deputy Chief Executive of GLL the charitable Social Enterprise behind the Copper Box Arena added: “We are delighted that this important and worthy fundraiser will take place at the Copper Box Arena. It combines elite sport with very worthwhile community ambitions that closely mirror GLL’s Social Enterprise ethos.”

It is anticipated that Hoops Aid will become a regular fixture, taking place every two years, on the alternative year to Soccer Aid and Sport Aid. However, Hoops Aid will differ from Soccer Aid in that it will also feature disability sport.

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, also said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the Copper Box Arena is hosting this tremendously worthwhile Hoops Aid event which promises some superb entertainment. Sport can transform people’s lives and it’s tremendously important that opportunities to take part in activities are available to everyone. Part of the legacy we are delivering through programmes and initiatives like Motivate East are helping to ensure that is the case.

This will be a great day out for all of the family to capture some of the 2012 Olympic experience once again and therefore an event that will surely live in the memory forever.

Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster:

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Hoops-Aid-tickets/artist/1882015 or call 0844 815 0815

About Sports Traider

Sports Traider is a national sports charity whose aim is to create a level playing field by helping disadvantaged and disabled kids to have access to sports kit, equipment, and sporting opportunities in order to help them get into sport regardless of ability, disability or background.

Sports Traider does this by running a number of retail sports stores with able and disabled volunteers selling affordable donated sports kit and equipment. All the money raised in the stores goes towards providing sports opportunities and coaching for disadvantaged and disabled young people in the community local to that store.

www.sportstraider.org.uk , twitter.com/sportstraider1, facebook.com/sportstraiderlimited

About the BBL

The BBL – British Basketball League – is an independent company owned by its member clubs, which runs the top men’s professional league in the UK. Each club has an equal shareholding in BBL and has a representative on the BBL Board of Directors, thus is a part of all decision-making. There is a central BBL office, from which league-wide administration, marketing and media is undertaken, although the clubs are spread across the country.

About the Battle Backs

Battle Back was launched in 2008. It is not a charity – it is an MOD initiative based at Headley Court near Epsom. It exists to ensure the seriously injured have access to the same opportunities in sport and adventurous training that are currently available to the able bodied. Through Battle Back, a tri-service organisation, seriously injured service personnel are encouraged to participate in sport and adventurous training as part of their rehabilitation process and beyond. Battle Back makes a huge difference in lives, both physically, mentally and emotionally.