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 take place on the UCLA campus the morning of Sunday, Nov. 6.

The UCLA men's and women's basketball teams, along with the UCLA Athletic Department, have joined forces with UCLA 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 this year's Dribble for the Cure.
 
The event will start at UCLA's Drake Stadium and conclude at Collins Court in the John Wooden Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., where Drake Stadium activity booths and entertainment will highlight a welcome ceremony at 10 a.m.
 
The dribble event will begin at 10:15 a.m., as each participant will bring a basketball (or buy a basketball on site) for the 1.2 mile dribble course around campus. Finish line festivities in Collins Court are slated to begin at 11:15 a.m., giving participants a unique opportunity to meet for autographs and pictures with the men's and women's basketball teams. Student-athletes from other UCLA athletic teams will serve as volunteers, assisting and participating with Dribble for the Cure.
 
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 souvenir bag.
 
For the fifth consecutive year, Dribble for the Cure set an annual donation record in 2015. The event totaled over 650 participants (third-highest annual event participation total) with record gross revenue, including corporate sponsorships of $186,700. The annual event has grown each 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 from Dribble for the Cure will be directed to finding a cure for pediatric cancer through the PCRF and Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA Cancer Research Program and Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
 
"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 have 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 provide 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, describing 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."
 
For UCLA men's basketball head coach Steve Alford, this will be his fourth Dribble for the Cure. "At the start of every season our team certainly looks forward to participating in this great and meaningful event," Alford said. "Last year reaching the $1,000,000 donation mark in the fight against children's cancer was certainly a milestone in the Dribble's eight-year history. It's been a privilege and honor for our program to be participating in Dribble for the Cure since its inception in 2008."
 
UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close will be participating in her sixth consecutive Dribble for the Cure. "Dribbling a basketball across the UCLA campus to help raise funds to fight pediatric cancer is always an early-season highlight for our team," Close said. "It's great how our Bruin basketball families come together for this wonderful event and we want to say thank you to all the participants who have donated over the years in our continuing battle 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 1969 and 1970 NCAA championship teams, he is a 2006 inductee into the UCLA Athletic 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 us 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."
 
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), celebrating its 34th anniversary, is an independent non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting the highest quality pediatric cancer research. Established in 1982, its founders – parents, donors, friends and community leaders, had a common vision – to bring hope and lifesaving treatments to children battling cancer and to improve the care, quality of life and survival rate of children with malignant diseases. Since 1982, PCRF has raised over $36 million in support of laboratory research that translates into immediate treatment for children with cancer. For the third year in a row, PCRF has been awarded the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. More PCRF information is available at www.pcrf-kids.org.
 
As in previous years, major sponsors for UCLA's Dribble for the Cure include Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities (LATLC), BJ's Restaurant Foundation and Polly's Pies. Polly's Pies Restaurant is owned by Eddie Sheldrake, who was a UCLA guard/forward on Coach Wooden's first three Bruin men's basketball teams (1949-51). In 2000, Sheldrake was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
For more 'Dribble for the Cure' information and to donate and register, please go to www.dribbleforthecure.com or call 1-800-354-7273.
 
Dribble for the Cure
Sunday, Nov. 6 – on UCLA's campus
 
8:30 a.m. – Registration (Drake Stadium)
10 a.m. – Welcome Ceremony (Drake Stadium)
10:15 a.m. – 'Dribble for the Cure' begins (Drake Stadium)
11:15 a.m. – Finish Line Festivities (Collins Court/John Wooden Center)
 
* please note, Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 a.m., as clocks are turn back one hour to a 1 a.m. PST