Lindsey Murphy, Abbey Pommer, Adriene Holland, and Megan Simpson
Wednesday, September 9th, is World Hoop Day, and the Hooper Troopers
— Adriene Holland, Lindsey Murphy, Abbey Pommer, and Megan
Simpson — will host the Memphis event in Overton Park from 4:30
to 8 p.m.
World Hoop Day was started in 2006 by Annie and Kevin O’Keeffe and
Stefan Pildes, with the goal of providing exercise and playtime via
handmade hula hoops to those who need it most. To date, the nonprofit
has given away more than 12,000 hoops.
The Hooper Troopers formed about a year ago. The women are either
students or have jobs, but they’ve been spreading the gospel of the
hoop in their spare time by entertaining at birthday parties and
community events such as the Memphis Farmers Market. And how’s this for
a little inside-hula-hooping? At a recent Get Memphis Moving event,
Flyer staff writer Bianca Phillips and senior editor John
Branston participated in a hoop-off. Phillips made the top three;
Branston, the top five.
The Hooper Troopers will have a hoop raffle at the Memphis Hoop Day
and will be selling their wares, which run from $15 for a small child’s
model to $45 for a collapsible hoop. Proceeds will go to the World Hoop
Day organization.
Participants can bring their own hoops to the event, and musicians
and other entertainers are encouraged to come out and join the fun.