University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Dribble Nets More Than $140K for Childhood Cancer Research
October 17, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Bruin Athletics
LOS ANGELES โ Dribble for Victory Over Cancer returned to UCLA for its 16th year Sunday, as men's and women's basketball Bruins united once again with dribblers in the fight to end childhood cancer.
Drake Stadium was the backdrop for the morning's opening ceremonies, while Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom provided the finish line for another memorable day. More than $140,000 has been raised to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and lifesaving research at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital through the Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer at the V Foundation. That total has exceeded $150,000 in the days following, with donations still being accepted HERE. SEIA returned as the National Champion Sponsor.
More than 500 registrants contributed to the latest efforts. The UCLA event has now brought in more than $100,000 each of the past 13 years and close to $2 million total since its introduction. Dribble for Victory Over Cancer has expanded to include iterations at Duke (started in 2023), North Carolina (2023) and St. John's (2011) over the years.
The UCLA athletic department's involvement in Dribble for Victory Over Cancer includes more than its basketball teams, as student-athletes from other programs distributed giveaways and enjoyed games as the crowd grew. The UCLA Spirit Squad, Joe and Josie Bruin and the UCLA Alumni Band were also on hand. Men's and women's basketball joined the fun by fulfilling autograph and photo requests while getting to know the dribblers. When the time came, Lauren Betts, Adem Bona, Kiki Rice and Cori Close, The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach, rang in the Dribble's start with an 8-Clap.
A trio of honorary captains made up of cancer warriors Camilla, Karson and Lilo was celebrated throughout the morning. Fan favorite Thatcher was back, while well wishes were sent to the families and loved ones of Erin Vallely, Alexa and Bailey. Basketball student-athletes accompanied each on the approximately one-mile course, learning more about them along the way.
Finish-line ceremonies includes the presentation of this year's Erin Vallely Courage Award to Dr. Theodore B. Moore, the Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at UCLA. UCLA Athletic Hall of Famer John Vallely and his wife, Karen, brought Dribble to UCLA in 2008 as a way to honor their daughter, Erin, who was lost to pediatric cancer in 1991 at the age of 12. Executive Director Jeri Wilson also spoke about the 41-year mission of PCRF to bring the number of deaths from childhood cancer to zero
Also recognized were the top individual and team fundraisers. Leading the way individually was Sarah Senator, who has brought in $8,500. Thatcher's Hawkstars, with a running total of $14,802, took home the top team prize. Annie Slutske and Ryan Bley also rank among the top individuals, while Team Jackson and Hoops for Hope round out the top three teams.
