The Gaming Hoopla is an annual gaming convention that is a fund-raiser for cancer related charities. The Gaming Hoopla is the featured event run by dedicated staff of gamers under the non-profit organization known as the Hoopla Foundation.

Consistent growth has lead to a couple moves in the last couple years. We have a home at the Doubletree by Hilton in Mundelein, Illinois (a north/northwestern suburb of Chicago) since 2018.

The Gaming Hoopla features the following:

- Board gaming (including tournaments and "learn to play" sessions)
- Role-playing games
- A well curated board game library - FREE to check out games with your badge.
- Exhibitors, including both publishers and retail stores
- The Hoopla Silent Auction - bring games to sell or bring money to buy - or BOTH!!!!
- The Best Raffle Ever - thank you to all of our generous donators and attendees who purchase tickets
- The Hoopla Math Trade - in person, no shipping - exchange your old game for a new to you game to put in your collection

Just as important is why we Hoopla:

All of the proceeds from the Gaming Hoopla go to cancer related charities. Since 2018, we have exclusively supported Aurora Cancer Care.

Based in south eastern Wisconsin, Aurora Cancer Care serves about 25% of all those impacted by cancer in Wisconsin – the largest in the state. This gives them a unique advantage to have great outcomes based on patient data, as well as opening up a wide network of over 175 clinical trials for patients. Below are just a few of the programs that the Hoopla Foundation's donation with help support, and information about everything Aurora Cancer Care does can be found here.

Nurse Navigation. These are people that help patients – and their families – through the journey. Not only is it overwhelming emotionally to deal with a diagnosis, but coordinating appointments, dealing with insurance, identifying the best treatments – these are people that hold your hand to get our patients through it.

Team Phoenix. Exercise helps survival rates, but it sure is easier to say that than to do it! So we have Team Phoenix, run by one of the most incredible breast surgeons in the area, who coordinates a group of folks to train for a triathlon and then they do it together. Most of these people have never run a mile, let alone a triathlon! This group dynamic and strong leadership help keep these new athletes motivated. It’s so inspiring.

Integrative Medicine. This includes additional treatments like acupuncture, massage, reiki, etc. Not only does it help with stress levels, but it has been shown to reduce the amount of pain – including nausea – that patients deal with. It’s also shown to reduce Peripheral Neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by chemotherapy and is a significant complaint of cancer patients.

Research. In addition to the programs above that that integrate new research, Aurora Cancer Care has over 175 clinical trials and you can access those at most of our locations across the state. Having access to them is key for patients, and that comes from supporting the Aurora Cancer Research Awards. And, because of the work in research and innovative treatments, it also propelled bringing the NanoKnife here to Wisconsin. You can learn more about some of the cancer related research projects Aurora Cancer Care helps fund through the Aurora Discovery Laboratory.

Visit our web site for more information (http://www.gaminghoopla.com)