It’s Bigger Than Basketball is a fundraising event founded in Abbotsford, British Columbia that focuses on improving the athletic environment surrounding mental health. The event aims to end stigmas related to mental illness, while simultaneously enhancing the support systems in place for athletes facing mental health challenges.
Since our very first event in 2018, It’s Bigger Than Basketball has been dedicated to driving change through compassion and sport. What started as a local basketball fundraiser in Abbotsford, British Columbia, has grown into an inspirational movement for the mental health of athletes. Guided by unity and empathy, we continue to inspire hope and strengthen our community—one game, one conversation at a time.
Together, let’s reshape the future of mental health in sports. Join It’s Bigger Than Basketball today and help create a world where every athlete feels supported, understood, and never alone.
It’s Bigger Than Basketball unites sport and compassion to champion mental health. We harness the power of basketball to uplift athletes, spark awareness, and inspire hope both on and off the court.
We believe sport is more than competition — it’s connection. Through community events and fundraising, we bring people together to support mental wellness and create lasting, positive change.
Uniting athletes, fans, and communities across British Columbia to raise both awareness
surrounding mental health and funds for mental health initiatives. All funds raised from 2026’s event will be donated to the UBC T-Birds Mental Health Initiative and the Foundry Abbotsford.
Through every game, we aim to create something bigger — a movement built on purpose, awareness, and connection.
Funding access to mental health services for nearly 700 student-athletes at the University of British Columbia.
Hosting events that normalize conversations around stress, identity, and mental wellness in sport.
Providing mentorship and leadership opportunities for young players through all-star games and school outreach.
I know how it feels to go through mental health struggles and challenges. Knowing the pain it causes, I don’t want anyone to ever have to go through that. By showing support to those around me, knowing that even a small gesture of support can make a big difference in someone’s life motivates me. Everyone deserves to feel heard and valued.
Q: What would you say to someone struggling with their mental health? “I would say that they are not alone. Mental health is a battle and fighting it alone isn’t the answer; reaching out to those around you for support and help isn’t a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. We are all in this together.”
I suffered head trauma at a young age that kept me away from basketball and, by extension, loud and bright social settings for two years. That time away took a major toll on my mental health in more ways than I could have ever imagined. When I finally returned to the game, I realized that the toughest battles aren’t always the ones on the court-they’re the ones in my mind
Low mental health affects me every day, often unnoticed by others, impacting both my game and my life outside of it. Therapy, meditation, and self-care have helped me navigate these struggles, but the journey is ongoing.
That’s why this event means so much more to me than just an All-Star Game. It’s an opportunity to bring awareness to the mental health struggles that too often go overlooked, especially for young kids. Whether it’s negative thoughts, anxiety, or the pressure to push through without showing weakness, these battles are real. In my eyes mental health matters just as much as physical health-on and off the court.
These stories are just a glimpse of the many lives that It’s Bigger Than Basketball has touched. We invite you to be a part of this remarkable journey of transformation.
