The Santa Slam-A-Thon is a 10 hour pickleball playing marathon to be attempted by Tripp Roakes. Four spots are available each hour to rotate playing with Tripp in doubles action. Spots to play are $30 each and will include a free event t shirt. Play begins at 9:00am and the final shot will be hit at 8:00pm at the Middleton Park Courts in Oak Island, NC.
After raising 50 toys for children in Brunswick County to honor his late wife in 2023 and 100 toys in 2024, Tripp has a goal of raising 500 toys through the event in 2025.
Yes, players can sign up for as many slots as they like. Help Tripp fill up the 40 spots so he can work on business sponsorships and more.
Donations are welcome and will be put to good use in the purchase of the toys. To reach the goal, it will take a combination of players, donations and sponsors.
To distribute this many toys will take a few partners to help identify and deliver the toys. Along with Social Services, local police departments and school social workers, over 500 toys will make their way into the hands of children that need a life this Christmas season.
Bigger challenges are accomplished every day by folks dedicated to their goals. With a rest every 4 games via player rotation and the continued building up of stamina, Tripp fully believes he can accomplish his goal?
Yes, Tripp needs 5-7 local sponsors to help reach the goal. Sponsors will go on the event t-shirts, website and more. Reach out to TrippRoakes@gmail.com
Tripp will need a few day of volunteers to help with logistics, food and drinks, social media and other small needs. Please let him know if you can help for a couple of hours so he can focus on reaching the ten hour goal.
To distribute this many toys will take a few partners to help identify and deliver the toys. Along with Social Services, local police departments and school social workers, over 500 toys will make their way into the hands of children that need a life this Christmas season.
Who is Tripp Roakes?
My name is Tripp Roakes and I am a full time Oak Island resident that has always been involved in youth sports and fundraising causes for children. After graduating from East Carolina University, I began my sports marketing career with a three year stint in the fundraising and marketing departments at The East Carolina Athletics Department. A fantastic opportunity to join the NASCAR Marketing industry drew me away from my beloved Pirates.
I began an exciting 17 year career working with many of the top drivers, teams and sponsors in NASCAR. After marrying Grace in 2021 and adding Tyler to her beautiful family that included Hannah and Will in 2003, I heard the calling to come off the road and begin a new non-traveling career.
I founded the South Charlotte Sports Report in 2006, a youth sports newspaper and marketing company. This allowed me to dedicate all of my time and resources to working for the betterment of children and the creation of positive events for families in Charlotte. Today, I own over 30 youth sports camps and 12 large scale youth sports event in Charlotte and across North Carolina.
After the tragic loss of my wife Grace to brain cancer in 2023, I listened to the many instructions left behind by Grace and started my move to living full time in Oak Island. On August 15, 2024, I left Charlotte behind and headed East, first dropping off Tyler at East Carolina and then continuing further East to beaches of Oak Island.
On February 27, 2025, I accepted an offer to try out the sport of Pickleball. It was love at first sight and for the first time since losing Grace, my world began to change for the better. So many pickleball players in the area opened their arms to me and welcomed me into their groups. I was treated with so much love and grace as I began to play twice a day. From there, everything in my life improved, so many new friends, so many social invitations and a much healthier feeling came across my entire body.
Pickleball changed my life, PERIOD. Now after running two small toy drives the last two years at Christmas, it’s time for me to put my love of Pickleball to work and truly make a big impact on the lives of children in Brunswick County. On November 12th, I will play 10 consecutive hours of pickleball and am looking for 40 players to join me for one hour of play. In addition to donations from friends and a few sponsors, I have set a goal of raising the funds to purchase 500 toys to be distributed to less fortunate children in our county.
Thanks for your consideration of taking a playing a sport, making a donation or sponsoring my journey. Together we can reach my goal and make a difference, just like Pickleball has made a difference in my life.
Thanks so much
Tripp Roakes
TrippRoakes@gmail.com