At the inaugural Coaches vs. Cancer event, ESPN Broadcaster and keynote speaker Bob Valvano ’79, who lost his brother to the disease, says ‘It’s Go Time” to find a cure. [View the Video]
By Megan Z. Shearin | October 7, 2010
Local basketball coaches showed last week that they’re not afraid to take on a fight – even a big one.
Men’s and women’s basketball coaches from six area schools, including Virginia Wesleyan College, Old Dominion University, The College of William & Mary, Hampton University, Norfolk State and Christopher Newport University joined together to fight against cancer at the inaugural Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off Breakfast.
ESPN Broadcaster Bob Valvano, who graduated from Virginia Wesleyan in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, was the keynote speaker. In 2006, Valvano was named the Alumni Associations Distinguished Alumnus and was inducted in to the Athletic Hall of Fame as a Charter Member in 2009.
The event raised more than $24,000 between live and silent auctions of basketball memorabilia, ticket sales and sponsorships. Since 1993, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has joined together college and high school coaches from across the nation, raising over $60 million in support of the American Cancer Society.
“I think this is a tremendous event to raise awareness,” said Stephany Dunmyer, who is entering her eighth season as the head women’s basketball coach at Virginia Wesleyan. “As a team, we do things throughout the year such as the Pink Zone game focused on breast cancer awareness, but this takes our efforts into the broader community.”
During the event, Valvano shared memories about his brother Jim, who won a national championship, coached in eight NCAA basketball tournaments and was twice named ACC Coach of the Year before succumbing to cancer.
“Jim was an unusual man. He lived 47 years, but it was like dog years,” said Valvano. “I miss him so much. The world is a lot quieter and not as funny now that he’s gone.”
An active board member of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Valvano encouraged individuals to collaborate together to tackle the bigger issues of fighting cancer. He cited funding for young scientists to conduct research as a large financial challenge. Founded in 1993 by his brother and ESPN, The V Foundation has raised over $100 million for cancer research.
“But it’s not good enough, yet,” said Valvano. “Cancer is like a gigantic mountain and we can do much more when we work together, just like a team. We have to do much more.”
Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dave Macedo, who guided Virginia Wesleyan to its first NCAA Division III national championship in 2006, said it was a special feeling to participate in such a memorable event.
“All of us know someone who’s been touched by cancer, so it’s a great way to give back,” said Macedo. “It also speaks volumes about the caliber of coaches in the Hampton Roads community.”
With the local basketball season right around the corner, Valvano concluded his speech with advice his brother used to give him when he coached collegiate basketball before he began his career in broadcasting.
“Jim used to say that the two hours that you play the game, you owe nobody an apology,” said Valvano. “But the minute the game is over, you have to understand that there’s a much bigger picture and a bigger fight out there. This is a wonderful way and a beautiful way to show what Jim meant.”
Dunmyer and Macedo aren’t the only coaches from Virginia Wesleyan who are taking a stand to fight against cancer. Three years ago, Head Women’s Softball Coach Brandon Elliot initiated Strike Out Cancer Day in honor of his mother, Elaine Sears, who passed away in 2008. Almost $10,000 has been raised in the last two years and donated to the American Cancer Society.
This year’s Strike Out Cancer Day will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. The players will wear special yellow jerseys with “Sears” on the back to honor Elaine, and the bases and foul lines will be painted yellow.