LOS ANGELES – The 11th annual Dribble for the Cure will take place Sunday, Oct. 14 on the UCLA campus. UCLA Athletics, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA will again join forces in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Since the inaugural event, Dribble for the Cure has brought in $1,464,350 from 7,425 participants. It was a milestone 2017, as Dribble marked its 10th year with a record $209,000. Each year has seen an increase in money raised, beginning at just over $80,000 in 2008.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the yearly dribble drive around and through the university's historic buildings and athletics facilities, approximately one mile in distance. Sunday morning, participants will be joined by Bruin student-athletes for fun and games at Drake Stadium before setting course for Pauley Pavilion. There, top individual and team fundraisers and team captains will be recognized before UCLA men's and women's basketball student-athletes and coaches dish out autographs.

"The Dribble for the Cure has become the signature event in the pediatric cancer program at UCLA," said Dr. Theodore Moore, the Professor and Chief of Pediatric Oncology and Director of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. "The importance of which cannot be understated as an event that involves the UCLA community and the general community in Los Angeles and other counties spanning many ages and walks of life."

Jeri Wilson, Executive Director of PCRF, echoed Dr. Moore's sentiments: "UCLA has been an integral part in PCRF raising over $42 million dollars to support pediatric cancer research. It has been our honor to partner with the Bruin Nation to give a future to our littlest warriors fighting cancer."

The 2018 installment of Dribble for the Cure will be special for yet another reason, as the Oct. 14 date coincides with what would have been Coach John Wooden's 108th birthday.

"It is special to have Dribble for the Cure on Coach Wooden's birthday," said UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer John Vallely, who started for Wooden's NCAA Championship teams in 1969 and 1970 and was instrumental in bringing Dribble to his alma mater. "I hope that everyone involved in this year's event will feel the reflection of his giving spirit. Coach was always enthusiastic for the opportunity to help children who have been stricken with cancer. He spoke at several of our PCRF events."

Vallely, himself a two-time stem cell/bone marrow transplant survivor, lost his daughter, Erin, to pediatric cancer in 1992. She was 12 years old. He and his wife, Karen, have been proactive in the quest to combat the disease, which affects 43 new children and adolescents every day in the United States. John is a board member for PCRF.

The fight has stretched cross country, where St. John's University Athletics will hold its eighth Dribble event with PCRF on Sept. 22. The Queens, N.Y. school has raised over $500,000, putting the cause in line to officially top the $2 million combined mark in 2018.

"Join us as we break the $2 million mark for our great Dribble for the Cure at UCLA," said Vallely.

For more information, visit dribbleforthecure.com.

EVENT SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m. – Registration opens and Dribble for the Cure Festival opens
10 a.m. – Welcome Ceremony
10:15 a.m. – Dribble Course begins
11:15 a.m. – Finish Line Festivities and Awards at Pauley Pavilion