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“Don’t Give Up . . . Don’t Ever Give Up!”®
Serving as the heartbeat of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, formed by ESPN and Jim in 1993, his words throughout the ESPY speech have never been more meaningful. After being diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 46, Jim dreamed of finding cures for cancer. Passionate and committed, he wanted to see his fight through to victory. As a former coach, he began to recruit his team of family and friends to lead the Foundation in his quest to eradicate the disease.
As a cancer patient, Jim recognized the need to invest in young physician/scientists to help establish their careers—after all, someone had invested in him early in his career! Addressing the need to help early-career cancer investigators develop into promising future research talents was the first goal of the Foundation. The V Scholar concept was developed in 1994 to address that need. Today, this highly respected award is eagerly sought by young physician/scientists at the nation’s leading cancer centers.
As with any patient, Jim discovered first-hand how slowly science progresses from the lab to the patient’s bedside. He wanted faster solutions, more progress and better answers. Eight years after his death, The V Foundation announced its Translational Research Grants, designed to accelerate laboratory findings with the goal of benefiting patients more quickly.
Although Jim lost his battle with cancer less than two months after delivering the ESPY speech, his dream of a cure lives on through research grants bestowed in his name. The V Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to more than 100 facilities nationwide and proudly awards 100% of direct donations and net event proceeds to cancer research.
A relatively young organization, The V Foundation has a strong presence in the scientific community. The Foundation is guided by an elite, all-volunteer Scientific Advisory Board who recommends the research projects funded. This Board is comprised of top physicians and research scientists from prominent universities and cancer centers throughout the country. Working with this team of talented professionals, we are proud to carry out Jim’s vision for the future.
Jim’s dream of finding a cure for cancer is one shared by millions. Although we have not yet achieved this goal, every day we get a little bit closer and will continue to honor his inspiring words, “Don’t Give Up . . . Don’t Ever Give Up!” ®

 


I know that Jimmy Valvano is looking down from heaven, watching a lot of college basketball and smiling.

He is probably proud of his friends. After all, this is Jimmy V Week at ESPN.

I cannot believe it is almost 17 years since he left us.

I remember something he said to his friends near the end of his life, one which was cut short by the dreaded disease of cancer. He told several people that cancer would not be cured before he left, but we needed to do research to beat it in the future.

Jimmy did a lot of great things on the basketball court, roaming the sideline with so much passion and energy. I think about Jimmy V and the North Carolina State Wolfpack shocking Phi Slama Jama in 1983. Nobody thought they had a shot. That Houston team had Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, but the image of Dereck Whittenburg putting up that last-second shot and Lorenzo Charles dunking it for the win and the Cinderella story as national champion ... wow!
What Jimmy had to do earlier in the tournament was incredible. I don't know if people remember but his team beat North Carolina with Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and company; I would say that was a pretty good team, baby! Then they had to come back and beat Ralph Sampson and Virginia (in the ACC tournament) just to get into the big dance. The Wolfpack had struggled to beat Pepperdine, coached by Jim Harrick, in the first round.
The way the Wolfpack were able to run the table like that in Albuquerque was unbelievable. Jimmy had the crowd. He had the media and the fans. He was wowing them and having them eat out of the palm of his hand! You know, at the time, his wife was expecting and he said to me that if they had a boy they were going to name him Al B. Kerke. That's how much he wanted to win at the Final Four. Fortunately, they had a girl.

That said, Jimmy's legacy is so important after his life ended. You see his 1993 ESPYS speech and watch it in amazement. His battle against cancer rages on, and I am so proud to be on the board of directors of The V Foundation.

The team assembled is truly awesome, baby, with a capital A! Nick Valvano leads the team and he has put so much time and energy into the cause. His leadership is so important as he is so passionate about helping his brother's dream turn into reality.

Jimmy's former teammate at Rutgers, Bob Lloyd, is the chairman of the board for The V Foundation. His guidance and leadership have been so important.

Coach K, the best leader in all of sports, has been so vital to the success of the foundation. His friendship with Jimmy V meant so much to the whole Valvano family.

ESPN's John Saunders was as close as anyone to Jimmy. He named one of his daughters with Jimmy's initials of JTV. John has been a major factor in The V Foundation, too.

Then there is an office in North Carolina with passionate people fighting to beat this dreaded disease.

Jimmy has a great team still working hard for him. I hope that you will join it by calling 1-800-4-JIMMY-V, or you can help me out as I try to raise $1 million for cancer research through my Dickie V gala. It will be in Sarasota, Fla., on May 20, 2011, as we honor North Carolina's Roy Williams and Kentucky's John Calipari.

It will be an emotional time at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. It always is as we reflect on Jimmy's life, listen to his speech as it plays on the Garden scoreboard. Jimmy will be looking down, smiling as Kansas faces Memphis and Michigan State meets Syracuse.

Jimmy's two great passions will be in play: college hoops and fighting cancer.