On Wednesday night at The ESPYs, Arizona St. wrestler Anthony Robles won the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. The Jimmy V award is given to someone who has overcome great obstacles with physical perseverance and determination - George Karl, the Denver Nuggets coach, won it last year for his battles with cancer. Be sure to check out Anthony Robles' story at the link below.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=6754598
It's been 18 years since Jim Valvano's inspirational (and now iconic) speech at the inaugural ESPY Awards. That night, March 4, 1993, he was awarded the first Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award. His body was ridden with cancer and he knew he didn't have much time left. He passed away less than two months after announcing that night the start of The V Foundation for Cancer Research. I remember watching it live, and I remember being very moved by it. Thinking back, I believe it was my first exposure to cancer awareness.
The V Foundation is a chartable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping to find a cure for cancer. The Foundation seeks to make a difference by generating broad-based support for cancer research and by creating an urgent awareness among all Americans of the importance of the war against cancer. The V Foundation performs these dual roles through advocacy, education, fundraising, and philanthropy. Its motto is “Don’t give up...Don’t ever give up!” Since its inception, it has raised more than $100 million for cancer research.
I'll be moving up to 18 miles on Saturday morning as part of my training. I'll keep Jimmy V's motto in mind.
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