University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Milestone Day for Dribble for the Cure
October 19, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Bruin Athletics
LOS ANGELES – Pediatric cancer fighters came together Sunday, Oct. 14 with a common goal of furthering the already incredible impact Dribble for the Cure has made in the ongoing battle against the disease. Over the course of just a couple hours on the UCLA campus, they had done just that, raising money toward the cause, as well as awareness through stories of strength and determination.
UCLA Athletics, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA joined forces for the 11th straight year, trekking from Drake Stadium to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom, pounding basketballs into the pavement along a path of approximately one mile.
The ending point of Pauley Pavilion was made even more special by what else the day represented—108 years to the day of John Wooden's birth. The 10 NCAA championship banners won by Wooden's teams hung above the court as dribblers went head to head with current Bruin men's and women's basketball student-athletes as part of the finish-line festivities. The teams signed autographs to conclude the day.
"We are very appreciative that we get a chance to serve and we talk about it in our program all the time," said Steve Alford, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "About being selfless and the art of serving versus being served and things like this really bring it to light. Just having these children up here and seeing what they're going through, it really means a lot to us that we can have some small part in that."
The children spoken of by Alford were nine-year-old Genisee "Gigi" Hall, 10-year-old Alexa Kohler, five-year-old Pedro Lopez, seven-year-old Grayson Marzotti-Miller, four-year-old Leone Parks, three-year-old Skye Savren-McCormick, nine-year-old Lucas Tate and 14-year-old Kenny Thomas. All fought or are currently fighting cancer. Each captain was paired with a basketball student-athlete as stories were told and friendships formed.
"The impact the coaches and players have had on our patients is phenomenal and has contributed to physical and emotional healing, especially for the children who often spend months in the hospital losing much of their normal childhood," explained Dr. Theodore Moore, the Professor and Chief of Pediatric Oncology and Director of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. "I really want to thank the coaches and the leadership of UCLA Athletics for this partnership and for their vision for the holistic mentorship they pour into their student-athletes. This is an honor to John Wooden to develop not only a great athlete, but a great person who lives their life in service to others!"
PCRF Executive Director Jeri Wilson echoed Dr. Moore's sentiment.
"The genuine love and care I witnessed between the players and the kids was priceless," Wilson said. "Speaking to several of my patients during and after the event, they were simply blown away by the attention and love shown to them by the players and were really encouraged by it."
UCLA Athletics Hall of Famer John Vallely starred on two of Wooden's championship teams and eventually turned his life to service in the form of Dribble for the Cure. John and his wife, Karen, lost their 12-year-old daughter, Erin, to pediatric cancer in 1992. Their vision for Dribble came to fruition in 2008. Each year since, UCLA basketball teams have dribbled alongside participants, with other student-athletes taking on roles in recent years.
"When you're a Bruin, this is about, yes, we get to wear the four letters across our chests, but we represent something bigger than ourselves and that's why I really believe that John and his lovely wife, Karen, started this event," said Cori Close, The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach. "We are all a part of the Bruin family today and I just want to tell all of the people that raised money, you're making a difference. This is not something that is just a fun activity. This is changing lives and saving lives."
With more than $130,000 raised in the latest installment, UCLA Athletics, PCRF and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA have now brought in nearly $1.6 million through Dribble for the Cure. In 2011, Vallely and PCRF took Dribble to the East Coast and St. John's University in Queens, N.Y. In total, Dribble for the Cure has now raised more than $2 million.
Wayne Kamemoto and Team Kamemoto were recognized as the top individual and team contributors, respectively.
For more information, including how you can still make a contribution to Dribble for the Cure, please visit dribbleforthecure.com.
