Blessed Are The Peeps That Were Loved By MJ.
Come join us for a fun filled day of basketball, learn about heart health, and celebrate all things MJ at the Aaniin Community Centre. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, this event is open to all. Players must be 16 and up to participate. Let's come together to honour MJ's memory and spread love through the power of sports. See you there.
Register Now Donate
One Of The Kindest Souls To Ever Grace This World
Blessed are the peeps that were loved, cared and fed by MJ (Mantej Singh Minhas). One of the kindest souls to ever grace this world. He was a passionate foodie, loving husband, son, brother, uncle, a devoted friend to many, and I'm sure he held several other titles. Our lives haven't been the same since his sudden passing on May 4th, 2022, at the mere age of thirty one.
MJ was born to a humble Punjabi Sikh family in the diverse neighborhood of North York, Ontario. He was raised as a proud Canadian, with an abundance of love, kindness, empathy for all living things and a passion for the arts. From a very young age music was a means of communication for him, it was perhaps our love language as well. He was well known for his superior vocal skills, which were rooted in classical Indian music, and of course his animated rendition of DMX's "Where the hood at". My personal favorite was 50 Cent's "21 Questions". Maybe it was his love for basketball or the musical stylings of Mr. Jackson, but to all he was their MJ.
"MJ led a healthy, active lifestyle, he would play basketball for nearly three hours multiple times a week."
While consuming a balanced diet, abstaining from alcohol and any kind of drugs, he would be considered the "ideal" Indian son in law for all the Indian mothers reading this. So it truly shocked our family when the autopsy revealed he passed due to Atherosclerosis Heart Disease.
Our Mission
To empower and educate the community about the risks associated with heart disease, encourage proactive measures for prevention and early intervention. Through culturally informed rhetoric and tailored initiatives, impactful campaigns, sporting events, and meaningful collaborative partnerships, we strive to reduce the prevalence of heart disease and its associated disparities.
We hope that every individual in the South Asian community will be equipped with the knowledge and resources to lead a heart healthy life, creating a harmonious and resilient society where hearts beat stronger, and lives flourish.
All proceeds gathered by ticket sales will support yearly events run by Hoops and Hearts and be donated to related charitable initiatives, working to improve the treatment of heart disease.
Get In Touch
Want to partner with us, share a story about MJ, or ask a question? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out through our Get Involved page or connect with us on social media.