On Sunday, 15^th September 2013, the Copper Box Arena will open its doors to the first of its kind Charity Basketball event, Hoops Aid, conceived and designed specifically by its founder, Lance Haggith, to drive the Olympic and Paralympic legacy at grassroots level and to demonstrate how fun, accessible and inclusive sport can be.

Hoops Aid is set to be a highly entertaining and interactive fundraising event featuring basketball as the key sport. It is proposed to take place every 2 years, on the alternate year to Soccer Aid. Hoops Aid differs from Soccer Aid in that it will feature disability sport by means of an exhibition wheelchair game involving Battle Back soldiers, truly inspirational athletes facing the Hoops Aid challenge.

Sports Celebrities, Celebrities, and professional basketball players past and present from the National Basketball Association (NBA), the British Basketball League (BBL), Team GB, the GB Paralympics team and the Battle Back soldiers are all coming together to play basketball and have fun raising money for leading national Sports charity, Sports Traider.

Hoops Aid organiser, and founder of Sports Traider, Lance Haggith said: “Hoops Aid will be a wonderful celebration of sport. My aim of the day is to ensure everyone goes home smiling, having had a great day and enjoyed themselves immensely and being inspired by what they have seen.

“I launched the idea because….

I wanted to keep going the momentum generated by the Olympics and Paralympics where a nation was united as we celebrated our sporting heroes. Many opinions were changed about sport and disabilities at the Paralympics in particular where traditional barriers came tumbling down as we watched sport not disability.

“Hoops Aid, as well as being great entertainment, will demonstrate how accessible sport is whether you are able-bodied or disabled.”

Lance, who was voted BBC Unsung Hero Sports Personality of the Year 2010 for setting up the Sports Traider charity and helping in his community for over 30 years added: “Hoops Aid will be a perfect example of the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy and it is fitting that it is taking place on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park itself here in London.” Lance received further recognition by the Prime Minister in 2011 by being awarded a Big Society award for making a difference in the community and in 2012, our Olympic year; Lance also had the great privilege of running with the Olympic Torch.

Hoops Aid doors will open at midday and there will be live action right from the start. In addition to the all stars basketball game, an exciting programme will include a live performance from rapper EckSell, a slam dunk competition, a fantastic display of basketball tricks and skills plus much much more.

Supporting the event are the National Basketball Association (NBA), the British Basketball League (BBL) and England Basketball (EB), The Battle Back Soldiers, Canterbury, Spalding, and Adidas.

Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Hoops-Aid-tickets/artist/1882015