One of the most inspirational weeks of the sports calendar returns for its 17th year with ESPN and the V Foundation’s annual “V Week,” a weeklong awareness campaign to support cancer research and celebration of the life of former Iona and North Carolina State men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano.
Beginning Tuesday and continuing through Sunday, Dec. 10. ESPN will drive awareness for the V Foundation and the legacy of Jim Valvano throughout its programming across platforms to encourage donations to fund life-saving cancer research. One hundred percent of all funds raised by ESPN will be directed to cancer research.
This year’s V Week will feature an array of storytelling around cancer research and survivorship, and highlight iconic speeches on the importance of cancer research from Valvano, Dick Vitale, Robin Roberts, and Stuart Scott.
“Thirty years ago, Jim Valvano gave his legendary speech to never give up in the fight against cancer, and to this day, ESPN is committed to that by continuing to raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation to support cancer research,” said Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “From annual events such as the ESPN Roadblock and Jimmy V Classic to new initiatives such as the strategic collaboration with the NHL around Hockey Fights Cancer, collectively, we’re bringing more fans together to support the fight against cancer.”
ESPN Radio will host a day-long takeover across its programming starting Nov. 28 with simulcasts on ESPN2. Additional guests will join Unsportsmanlike (6 – 10 a.m. ET), #Greeny (10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET), Carlin vs. Joe (12 – 3 p.m. ET), Freddie and Harry (4 – 7 p.m. ET), Amber and Ian (7 – 10 p.m. ET) and GameNight (10 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET) to share their uplifting stories of hope and support in the fight against cancer.
ESPN and its sports league partners will also advocate for the V Foundation and cancer research through their own initiatives. V Week will feature a crossover with Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) to unite the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families. The NHL will have a league-wide moment across its games and its social media platforms paying tribute to HFC Month on Nov. 30, when the New York Islanders face the Carolina Hurricanes. Additionally, ESPN will highlight HFC on Nov. 28, when the Philadelphia Flyers host their HFC Night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Also on the docket are collaborations with the NFL and NCAA college basketball. In conjunction with the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” initiative, Josh Paschal of the Detroit Lions will dedicate his cleats to the V Foundation to show his passion for cancer research. Pascal has been a supporter of the V Foundation since his diagnosis at the University of Kentucky. Lastly, the 29th annual Jimmy V Classic will tip off, featuring more men’s and women’s college basketball teams than ever before.
“V Week allows us to spotlight the importance of cancer research each year across the entire sports landscape,” said Shane Jacobson, V Foundation CEO. “There is no more fitting way to close out the year – especially the V Foundation’s 30th anniversary – where we granted the most in any single year in our history (nearly $43 million), than alongside our founding partner, ESPN. This team has helped bring Jim Valvano’s vision of Victory Over Cancer to life since day one, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to lifesaving research.”
ESPN has helped raise nearly $200 million for the V Foundation in the fight to end cancer. For more information, visit the V Foundation’s website at v.org. Direct donations can be made at v.org/donate.
