LOS ANGELES - The ninth annual 'Dribble for the Cure,' which has raised over $1 million in the battle against pediatric cancer during its eight-year history, will once again be held on the UCLA campus on Sunday, Nov. 6. Start time and other event details will be released later this summer.
Cori Close's UCLA women's basketball team, Steve Alford's Bruin men's basketball squad and the UCLA Athletic Department will again join forces with Bruin men's basketball Hall of Famer John Vallely, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA for the 2016 'Dribble for the Cure.'
On the morning of Nov. 6, participants are asked to bring a basketball (or buy a basketball on site) and 'Dribble for the Cure' on a course winding through the UCLA campus. The event will feature a festival of games, autographs and pictures with UCLA student-athletes, along with food and entertainment prior to the start of the event. Team (a minimum of 10) and Individual participants will be asked to collect donations for their 'Dribble' and will be eligible for prizes based on the amount of pledge money turned in by Nov. 6. In addition, each participant will receive a 'Dribble for the Cure' T-shirt and goodie bag.
On Oct. 11, 2015, for the fifth consecutive year, 'Dribble for the Cure' set an annual donation record. The event totaled over 650 participants (third highest annual event participation total) with record gross revenue, including corporate sponsorships, of $186,700. Last year's event started at Drake Stadium with Finish Line Festivities at Collins Court (Wooden Center). 'Dribble for the Cure' has grown every year with an eight-year event total of 5,225 participants contributing over $1 million ($1,064,350) in the fight against children's cancer. Proceeds benefit the PCRF and support the treatment for pediatric cancer patients at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.
"There has never been a more exciting time in cancer research than now," said Dr. Theodore B. Moore, Chief of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. "Decades of basic research has provided us with insight in how cancers grow and escape the immune system. We are well positioned for the revolution in new targeted therapies to treat cancer. The sad part is that there is minimal support for research into how these new discoveries can benefit children with cancer. 'Dribble for the Cure' and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation provides the partnership that helps make that happen, by supporting new and innovative ideas to revolutionize the therapies for children with cancer. Nothing is more wonderful than to see our UCLA community on Nov. 6 come together in this effort!"
Jeri Wilson, PCRF Executive Director, addressed the 'Dribble for the Cure' supporters along with 'Bruin Nation,' stating what an honor it is to join forces in the battle against pediatric cancer. "No one fights alone," Wilson said. "We are one team with one common goal, to make sure no family ever has to hear the words, your child has cancer." PCRF has been funding life-saving pediatric cancer research for over 34 years and has raised over $36 million in the fight against children's cancer.
For many years, John Vallely and his family have been on the front line in the battle against cancer. A starting guard on John Wooden's UCLA 1969 and 1970 NCAA Championship men's basketball teams, he is a 2006 inductee into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2002, Vallely was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is a two-time stem cell/bone marrow transplant survivor. In 1991, Karen and John Vallely lost their daughter, Erin, to pediatric cancer at age 12.
"In 2008, the first year of our event, who would have dreamed of the wonderful achievements of our 'Dribble for the Cure,'" said Vallely, former President and current member of the PCRF Board of Directors since 1989. "We haven't yet eliminated childhood cancer, but we are closer than ever to this goal thanks to so many donations and participants over the last eight years. Please join UCLA's women's and men's basketball teams as we 'Dribble' our way around the beautiful Bruin campus. Form a team, become a corporate or individual sponsor, or simply make a donation to help with the success of this fun-filled event. 'Dribble for the Cure' is responsible for changing the future for children diagnosed with cancer. I hope to see you on Nov. 6 for a 'morning to remember.'"
For more 'Dribble for the Cure' information and to donate and register, please go to www.dribbleforthecure.com or call 1-800-354-7273.
Cori Close's UCLA women's basketball team, Steve Alford's Bruin men's basketball squad and the UCLA Athletic Department will again join forces with Bruin men's basketball Hall of Famer John Vallely, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA for the 2016 'Dribble for the Cure.'
On the morning of Nov. 6, participants are asked to bring a basketball (or buy a basketball on site) and 'Dribble for the Cure' on a course winding through the UCLA campus. The event will feature a festival of games, autographs and pictures with UCLA student-athletes, along with food and entertainment prior to the start of the event. Team (a minimum of 10) and Individual participants will be asked to collect donations for their 'Dribble' and will be eligible for prizes based on the amount of pledge money turned in by Nov. 6. In addition, each participant will receive a 'Dribble for the Cure' T-shirt and goodie bag.
On Oct. 11, 2015, for the fifth consecutive year, 'Dribble for the Cure' set an annual donation record. The event totaled over 650 participants (third highest annual event participation total) with record gross revenue, including corporate sponsorships, of $186,700. Last year's event started at Drake Stadium with Finish Line Festivities at Collins Court (Wooden Center). 'Dribble for the Cure' has grown every year with an eight-year event total of 5,225 participants contributing over $1 million ($1,064,350) in the fight against children's cancer. Proceeds benefit the PCRF and support the treatment for pediatric cancer patients at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.
"There has never been a more exciting time in cancer research than now," said Dr. Theodore B. Moore, Chief of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. "Decades of basic research has provided us with insight in how cancers grow and escape the immune system. We are well positioned for the revolution in new targeted therapies to treat cancer. The sad part is that there is minimal support for research into how these new discoveries can benefit children with cancer. 'Dribble for the Cure' and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation provides the partnership that helps make that happen, by supporting new and innovative ideas to revolutionize the therapies for children with cancer. Nothing is more wonderful than to see our UCLA community on Nov. 6 come together in this effort!"
Jeri Wilson, PCRF Executive Director, addressed the 'Dribble for the Cure' supporters along with 'Bruin Nation,' stating what an honor it is to join forces in the battle against pediatric cancer. "No one fights alone," Wilson said. "We are one team with one common goal, to make sure no family ever has to hear the words, your child has cancer." PCRF has been funding life-saving pediatric cancer research for over 34 years and has raised over $36 million in the fight against children's cancer.
For many years, John Vallely and his family have been on the front line in the battle against cancer. A starting guard on John Wooden's UCLA 1969 and 1970 NCAA Championship men's basketball teams, he is a 2006 inductee into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2002, Vallely was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is a two-time stem cell/bone marrow transplant survivor. In 1991, Karen and John Vallely lost their daughter, Erin, to pediatric cancer at age 12.
"In 2008, the first year of our event, who would have dreamed of the wonderful achievements of our 'Dribble for the Cure,'" said Vallely, former President and current member of the PCRF Board of Directors since 1989. "We haven't yet eliminated childhood cancer, but we are closer than ever to this goal thanks to so many donations and participants over the last eight years. Please join UCLA's women's and men's basketball teams as we 'Dribble' our way around the beautiful Bruin campus. Form a team, become a corporate or individual sponsor, or simply make a donation to help with the success of this fun-filled event. 'Dribble for the Cure' is responsible for changing the future for children diagnosed with cancer. I hope to see you on Nov. 6 for a 'morning to remember.'"
For more 'Dribble for the Cure' information and to donate and register, please go to www.dribbleforthecure.com or call 1-800-354-7273.