Karen’s Purple Shirt Party 2025

Basketball Tournament

Honouring the memory of Karen Wagenaar, this annual high school basketball tournament raises awareness and funds to support Albertans living with and affected by ALS. Started by Rick Wagenaar and his four sons in 2018, the event is hosted by the Medicine Hat High School basketball program, bringing the community together in Karen’s honour and dedicating one home game each year to Karen’s Purple Shirt Party. Whether it’s an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Selfie Challenge, 3 on 3 Hockey Tournament, or more - there have been many iterations of Karen’s Purple Shirt Party and we are so moved by the Wagenaar’s, and the Medicine Hat Community as a whole.

What is Karen's Purple Shirt Party? A Message from the Wagenaar Family (2022)

Five years ago, our family lost our mom Karen to ALS and ten years before that we lost our grandpa (Karen’s dad) to ALS as well.

⁠Although our mom’s journey with the disease was fast, sudden and horrible, she faced it with such bravery, and her faith reassured her that even though her time here would be short, her Lord and Saviour was preparing her a place without sorrow and sickness.⁠

⁠During the time she was sick, our family received support from the ALS Society of Alberta (@alsalberta). The support was so greatly appreciated that our family decided to help other families living with ALS. In her memory, our family wanted to create something positive, and raise awareness and funds to support those living with ALS in Alberta such as wheel chairs, wheels chair lifts, beds etc.