About 25,000 people hit Mooney’s Bay beach on Saturday for the world’s largest one-day volleyball tournament.
“This is my third year here so I’m always looking forward to coming back every summer,” said one participant.
HOPE Volleyball Summerfest (Helping Other People Everywhere) benefits six local charities.
$150,000 will be divided between the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the Make a Wish Foundation, Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation, the Distress Centre and the Ontario Lung Association.
“The lung association operates a respiratory health centre for people living with lung disease and the funds that we'll receive from HOPE will ensure that that service is operating on a year-round basis,” said Melanie Estable-Porter.
“There's so many people, there's so much energy, it's great to come out here and just be in the sun,” said Graeme Harrison. “It's a beautiful day. We're active; we're doing something for charity it's great, there's so much to offer.”
"We have 10,000 players today and we have 1,032 teams on 86 courts and then we're looking at probably about another 10,000 to 15,000 people walking around today,” said executive director Holly Tarrison.
With a report from CTV’s Katie Griffin
