Jimmy V Week

Everyone has heard the 1993 ESPYs speech.
“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
I have part of the speech hanging on my living room wall so that when I am having a tough day, I remember to laugh, think, and even cry. It reminds me to be thankful for the amazing life I have. It reminds me that I can overcome anything. It reminds me to take a breath and just stop for a minute and reflect on the good things and the bad things.
I watched the 30 for 30 “Survive and Advance” today (if you haven’t seen it, go watch it). It made me laugh, think, and cry. The incredible story of the 1983 NC State basketball team is inspiring in every sense of the word. Jim Valvano was one hell of a coach and an even better man.
So why did cancer have to choose him?
I’m not religious at all, but there are some things that make me think there might be some greater plan (or something like that). Maybe Jim Valvano was chosen because he would be able to raise awareness and motivate others to help find a cure. Maybe because of who he was and the respect he had, he could make a difference.
Cancer took two people away from me and my high school. First, my class lost a student. Kyler and I weren’t close, but whenever I talked with him, he made me smile. It made no sense to me that someone so young could die from cancer. Yesterday (December 7th) marked 5 years since he passed away.
The next year, our English teacher, Mr. Torch, lost his second fight with cancer. Mr. Torch had helped a lot of us through Kyler’s passing, so it was extremely difficult to lose him too. Mr. Torch was probably the best teacher I ever had, even though I was not the greatest English student. He might have been tough on me, but I know it was because he cared and he knew I could do better.
Kyler and Mr. Torch are two of the reasons why I donate to the V Foundation every year. There are many other reasons: my aunt Stacie who fought and beat hodgkin’s lymphoma, my best friends’ mom who fought and beat breast cancer, and countless other people in my life.
Cancer sucks. Everyone knows that. But I like to think that maybe my donation will lead to a cure. Maybe my donation will save someone’s life. Or maybe it’ll get us one step closer to finding the cure.
To me, that is more than enough of a reason to donate. Especially when 100% of the donations go to research. The Jimmy V Foundation has raised more than $150 million for cancer research.
I didn’t really intend for this post to be a call to action, but I really believe in this cause. I know not everyone has the means to donate, but if you do, every dollar helps. Your donation could lead to the breakthrough.
It is the season of giving, why not give to a worthy cause?
-Katie

Donate at www.JimmyV.org