About Us

About The JumpOff705

The JumpOff705 was built from pain, perseverance, and the belief that purpose can be reclaimed.

In 2017, my life changed overnight. What I thought was a knot in my hip was a slipped disc pressing on my sciatic nerve. I went from being active, working out, playing ball hockey and baseball, to barely being able to walk more than a few meters without collapsing from pain. As my condition worsened over nearly two years, I lost my mobility entirely and eventually relied on a wheelchair.

Six surgeons refused to operate due to the severity of the damage. Medication didn’t work for me, and I chose not to depend on heavy opioids. When a seventh surgeon finally agreed to take the risk, the surgery was expected to last three hours. Once they opened me up and saw how bad it truly was, it became a 7.5-hour operation, one that gave me a second chance at life.

Three days later, while I was still recovering in a hospital bed, a close friend overdosed and passed away.

That moment lit something in me.

I kept thinking, someone has to do something. Then it hit me, that someone was me.

The JumpOff705 took two months to create and three months of pushing for city approval, built on nothing but belief, persistence, and the idea that basketball could be more than a game. It could be a bridge bringing people together, giving them purpose, and creating impact where it’s needed most.

The road hasn’t been easy. There were setbacks, empty promises, and moments when quitting felt justified. But purpose doesn’t disappear just because the path is hard.

Today, The JumpOff705 is entering its third annual year, using basketball as a platform to unite the community and support causes that matter including the Barrie Food Bank.

The JumpOff705 stands for resilience. It’s a reminder that even when life takes your strength, your mobility, or your certainty, it can never take your why. This is proof that pain can be transformed into purpose, and that when a community comes together, real change happens.

Every JumpOff705 event is built to support local families through the Barrie Food Bank. Your support helps turn movement into meaning, on and off the court. 

Donations can be made directly to the Barrie Food Bank to support this mission. Click the button below and include“Hoopz-4-Hope / JumpOff705”  in the donation notes. :)