Hoops for HOPE raises funds for Cambodian hospitals, youth program

Billerica resident Dr. Milton Drake addresses the Hoops for HOPE 2024 event on Oct. 11, 2024. Drake is a physician who has traveled to Cambodia and Latin America on medical missions with his wife, Debbie. He worked with Tufts Medicine and Lowell General Hospital, who were great donors to Hoops for HOPE. (photo by Alley Landry)

Northboro’s Jackson Lemeriz makes a basket during the third hour of the 24-hour Hoops for HOPE event at UMass Lowell Recreation Center on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (Photo by Alley Landry)

Paul Watters, a member of the Hoops for HOPE leadership team, holds a framed photo of the late Kobe Bryant that is up for auction as part of the Bid to Give fundraising campaign. Watters previously raised the most funds by a single participant for the Hoops for HOPE 2023 fundraiser by walking from Florida to Massachusetts. During that walk, Watters raised over $20,000. (photo by Alley Landry)

A member of Hoops for HOPE spins a basketball on his finger while David Martin (right) looks on. (photo by Alley Landry)

Participants line up as they are assigned to teams by Phil Arsenault in the gym at the UMass Lowell Recreation Center during the Hoops for Hope 2024 event on Oct. 11. (photo by Alley Landry)

David Martin, who is in his first year on the Hoops for HOPE leadership team, addresses attendees and participants at the Hoops for Hope 2024 event at the UMass Lowell Recreation Center on Oct. 11. Martin is passionate about basketball and helping poor people, making his new role on the leadership team a perfect fit. (photo by Alley Landry)

A basketball sits on the court at Lowell University Recreation Center during the Hoops for HOPE 2024 event on Oct. 11, with Dr. Milton Drake addressing participants in the background. (photo by Alley Landry)

Auction items line a table in the UMass Lowell Recreation Center gymnasium during the Hoops for HOPE 2024 event on Oct. 11. The items are part of the Bid to Give fundraiser that Hoops for HOPE has held for the past few years in conjunction with the basketball marathon. (photo by Alley Landry)

Northboro’s Jackson Lemeriz drives the basketball as he runs down court 2 at UMass Lowell Recreation Center. Lemerise is one of the youngest participants in this year’s Hoops for HOPE event. (photo by Alley Landry)

Marvin Urdaneta, business manager in dental care, smiles as he walks down court 2 at the UMass Lowell Recreation Center during the Hoops for HOPE event on Oct. 11, 2024. The former college basketball forward made several dunks during this year’s event. (photo by Alley Landry)

Walpole resident Phil Arsenault, a founding member of Hoops for HOPE, addresses attendees during a delegate meeting on Oct. 11, 2024, at the start of the fourth hour of the Hoops for HOPE event at UMass Lowell Recreation Center. The event runs for 24 hours straight, raising funds and spreading awareness for various causes. This year, the event is raising funds for the Boston Teen Police Academy, Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital in Cambodia, and HOPE Worldwide. (photo by Alley Landry)

On Friday, Oct. 11, printed sheets of paper marked the hours of the Hoops for HOPE 2024 Basketball Marathon at the UMass Lowell Recreation Center. With each hour, participants gather around as a volunteer ceremoniously tears the page marking the previous hour. walls (photo by Alley Landry)

Gatorade, bottled water and fruit line the sidelines of Court 1 in the gym at the UMass Lowell Recreation Center for HOPE 2024 participants to snack on during the Oct. 11 basketball marathon. (Photo by Alley Landry)