If you are an avid viewer of ESPN, and I admittedly am, you might have noticed that it is Jimmy V week. Some of the more sport-savvy folks out there may know who Jimmy V is, but I’ll give you a quick bio.
Jim Valvano was a legendary basketball coach, player, and analyst who died in 1993 of bone cancer. Aside from his jubilant run around the court after his NC State Wolfpack team won the 1983 NCAA championship, he is best remembered for an impassioned and heartfelt speech that he gave at the ESPY awards just months before his death. If you have never seen the video of this, then please take the time to watch it above.
In a partnership with ESPN, Valvano started the Jimmy V Foundation (now known as the “V Foundation”) to fund cancer research and education. Since its inception, the organization has raised more than $90 Million dollars to fight this horrible disease.
Chances are you know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. One of my first memories as a child is losing my 48-year-old Grandfather to it. According to statistical data, one out of every two men and one out of every three women will get cancer in their lifetime. Those are pretty shocking odds. So what can we do about it?
The V Foundation proudly operates under Jimmy’s motto “Don’t Give Up…Don’t Ever Give Up!” Their drive for battling cancer reflects this sentiment. I am particularly fond of this organization because they are quite aggressive in their funding of research; intently focused on finding a cure. The V Foundation has a very strong presence within the scientific community. They happily give “100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net event proceeds to cancer research and related programs.” The non-profit has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 7th consecutive year. This ranks them in the top 2% of all charities evaluated, and ensures that all money raised is utilized to the fullest.
If you would like to donate to the V Foundation, please visit their donation page. In the event that you would like to hold a fundraiser, there are avenues for that as well. Also, be sure to catch the special programming that ESPN will feature this week in honor the charismatic Valvano and his inspirational spirit.
DoGood!
Matt
Please feel free to email me with comments or suggestions at matt@DoGoodedness.com!