Dribble for the Cure Set For Oct. 11
August 28, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Cori Close's UCLA women's basketball team, Steve Alford's Bruin men's basketball squad and the UCLA Athletic Department will join forces with Bruin men's basketball Hall of Famer John Vallely, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA for the 2015 'Dribble for the Cure.'
On Sunday, Oct. 11 the event will start at UCLA's Drake Stadium and conclude at Collins Court in the John Wooden Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. where Drake Stadium activity booths and entertainment will highlight a 10 a.m. Welcome Ceremony. At 10:15 a.m., 'Dribble for the Cure' will begin and each participant will bring a basketball (or buy a basketball on site) for the 1.2 mile dribble course around the UCLA campus. At 11:15 a.m., Finish Line Festivities (Collins Court) will give participants a unique opportunity to meet for autographs and pictures with the UCLA women's and men's basketball teams. Bruin student-athletes from other UCLA women's and men's sports also volunteer to participate in the 'Dribble.'
Team (a minimum of 10) and Individual participants are asked to collect pledges for their 'Dribble' and will become eligible for prizes based on pledge amounts turned in by Oct. 11. Each participant will receive a 'Dribble for the Cure' t-shirt and goodie bag.
Last year's 'Dribble for the Cure,' held Oct. 26, 2014 on the Bruin campus, for the fourth consecutive year set an annual donation record. The event totaled over 550 participants with record net revenue, including corporate sponsorships, of $177,650. 'Dribble for the Cure' has grown every year with a seven-year event total of over 4,575 participants contributing nearly $1 million in the fight against children's cancer. Proceeds will help support the treatment for pediatric cancer patients at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.
“ 'Dribble for the Cure' has become the signature event for patients and families of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UCLA and we look forward to it with great anticipation every year,” said Dr. Theodore B. Moore, Chief of Pediatric Hematology Oncology at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. “In partnering with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and UCLA Athletics, we have seen advances in the treatment and care of our patients move forward in a constructive way and that is helping our young patients live a better quality of life. The research gains that come from the support we receive through 'Dribble for the Cure' gives us all renewed hope for a long and bright future for our young patients. We are tremendously grateful to John and Karen Vallely and the teams at PCRF and UCLA Athletics for their time, energy and commitment to make a difference in the lives of patients and families fighting childhood cancers.”
For UCLA men's basketball head coach Steve Alford, this will be his third 'Dribble for the Cure.' “It has been a privilege and honor for our UCLA men's basketball program to be participating in 'Dribble for the Cure' since its inception in 2008,” said Alford, who for the last two seasons has led the Bruins to the NCAA Sweet 16. “It is with great pride for our Bruin team to be working with Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and Bruin men's basketball great John Vallely in their continued and dedicated quest to raise money to help find a cure for children's cancer.”
Bruin women's basketball head coach Cori Close will be participating in her fifth consecutive 'Dribble for the Cure.' “ 'Dribble for the Cure' is a notable experience for UCLA and the surrounding community and our team certainly looks forward to it every year,” said Close, who last season directed the Bruins to the Women's National Invitation Tournament championship. “It's great how our basketball family comes together for this wonderful event to raise money in the fight against pediatric cancer. As a team we want to say 'Thank You' to the Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, the Pediatric Research Foundation and the John Vallely family for sponsoring 'Dribble for the Cure.'”
For many years, John Vallely and his family have been on the front line in the battle against cancer. A starting guard on John Wooden's UCLA 1969 and 1970 NCAA Championship men's basketball teams, he is a 2006 inductee into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2002, Vallely was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is a two-time stem cell/bone marrow transplant survivor. In 1991, John and Karen Vallely lost their daughter Erin to cancer at age 12.
“As we look forward to our eighth annual event, 'Dribble for the Cure' will burst through the million dollar donation milestone this year,” said Vallely, former President and current member of the PCRF Board of Directors since 1989. “This achievement is significant because of 'the effort' of everyone involved with our event. We are funding top of the line pediatric cancer research. Please sign up as a sponsor, a participant, or form your own team. Join in our fun filled morning as we walk and dribble through the UCLA campus. We will meet the UCLA women's and men's basketball teams and enjoy the UCLA band and Bruin cheerleaders, as we change the world for children diagnosed with cancer. I look forward to seeing you on October 11!”
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), celebrating its 34th anniversary, is an independent non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting the highest quality pediatric cancer research. Established in 1982, its founders – parents, donors, friends and community leaders, had a common vision, 'To bring hope and lifesaving treatments to children battling cancer and to improve the care, quality of life and survival rate of children with malignant diseases.' Since 1982 PCRF has raised over $36 million in support of laboratory research that translates into immediate treatment for children with cancer. More PCRF information is available at www.pcrf-kids.org.
On Oct. 11, as in previous years, a major sponsor for UCLA's 'Dribble for the Cure' will be Polly's Pies. Polly's Pies Restaurant is owned by Eddie Sheldrake, who was a UCLA guard/forward on Coach Wooden's first three Bruin men's basketball teams (1949-51). In 2000, Sheldrake was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
For more 'Dribble for the Cure' information and to register, please go to www.dribbleforthecure.com or call 1-800-354-7273.
'Dribble for the Cure'/Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015/UCLA Campus
8:30 a.m. – Registration (Drake Stadium)
10 a.m. – Welcome Ceremony (Drake Stadium)
10:15 a.m. – 'Dribble for the Cure' Begins (Drake Stadium)
11:15 a.m. – Finish Line Festivities (Collins Court/John Wooden Center)