“Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”
Those were the words of Jimmy Valvano, renowned college basketball coach and founder of the V Foundation. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 1992, and he said those poignant words during a famous speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards to encourage people to continue the good fight against cancer, disease, and whatever difficulties that may come. His motto has continued to inspire people to persevere through life’s challenges and face hardship with a spirit of joy.
When Valvano was diagnosed with cancer, he partnered with ESPN to begin the V Foundation, an organization dedicated to championing cancer research and awareness. For the past twenty-seven years, the V Foundation has awarded one hundred percent of its donations to the pursuit of unlocking cancer’s mystery, giving upwards of $250 million to cancer research grants. There are over seventy-one cancer institutes in the country, and the V Foundation supports them all. The organization is also well-known for their meticulous attention to the process of approving cancer research grants and their honesty about where their money goes. The V Foundation targets research on the many different kinds of cancer, thus embracing the diverse groups of people who need treatment and help. What makes this organization stand out the most, however, is their platform of cancer awareness that has garnered a large following and sea of volunteers who want to work together to gain victory over this disease. They have reached a lot of cancer victims and encouraged them and their families to keep fighting.
There are numerous opportunities for involvement with the V Foundation, including donating, volunteering, and advocating. Their transparency with their goals, mission, and strategy makes them an inviting organization to support in whatever ways possible. Go to https://www.v.org/home to see how you can join in their battle against cancer!
