Rise Above GTA Inc. and the Lakeside Hoops tournament began in 2020
as a community tournament to raise awareness on Sickle Cell and Anxiety. Located at Lake Wilcox Park basketball court. The waterfront park includes a playground, beach volleyball, skatepark and the Oak Ridges Community Centre. And has recently become one of the most prominent parks in Richmond hill. After a tragic sickle cell crisis in 2019  Emmanuel Boakye and Kwaku Watson, built this program as a way to give back to the community that they grew up in. 

A meeting place for athletes, music lovers and fans of the sport – a space where people could be active and receive mentorship that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise, especially for kids from marginalized communities. A breeding ground for collaborations and initiatives, far beyond the conventional imagination of how far hoop dreams can go After 2020’s street ball tournament success best believe that Emmanuel and Kwaku are just getting started. Rise Above GTA will represent MORE.