Don't give up, don't ever give up

Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 by Travis Cody in
16

We briefly interrupt this hiatus for an important message...



It's Jimmy V week in college basketball. It's a week of nearly 50 college basketball games in 10 days across the country, including the Coaches vs Cancer Classic. The games feature healthy young men and women playing the game with passion and emotion.

The games also help raise awareness about cancer and funds for cancer research.

In what has become an annual post for me, I ask you once again to take 10 minutes and watch Jim Valvano's inspiring speech at the 1993 ESPY awards.



Jim Valvano (1946-1993) died of cancer less than two months after giving this speech. In the 16 years since the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research was established, it has raised more than $80 million.

The motto for the foundation is "Don't give up, don't ever give up".

NC State, coached by Jimmy V, beat Houston in the most improbable upset ever to win the 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship. They never gave up. And they created March Madness.

You may click here or follow the links on my sidebar to read more about the work the V Foundation and the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund do, and to make a donation should you choose.

Please remember the words of Coach Valvano..."Cancer can take away all my physical ability. It cannot touch my mind; it cannot touch my heart; and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever."

Peace to you all.

This has been a brief hiatus interlude. Carry on.

16 comments:

  1. Anndi says:
    03 December, 2009 04:45

    I think we can safeguard our minds, hearts and soul from everything... if we never give up.

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    03 December, 2009 05:00

    Good words and so true!
    Thanks Travis.
    <><

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    03 December, 2009 07:38

    And this post of yours...this video posting which always makes me cry..inspires me...has become a tradition for me to read.

    THANK YOU for posting it again. He IS an amazing human being.

  1. Mimi Lenox says:
    03 December, 2009 08:09

    P.S. Do you know how many North Carolina basketball games I watched with my dad when State played Carolina? Priceless memories..LOUD memories (ha!) but priceless.

    Coach Smith had such an intense and stern demeanor. Jimmy V was explosive.

    So was daddy! Armchair coach that he was. Oh the cursing....lol

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    03 December, 2009 08:14

    A great message indeed.

  1. Anonymous says:
    03 December, 2009 09:26

    Please remember the words of Coach Valvano..."Cancer can take away all my physical ability. It cannot touch my mind; it cannot touch my heart; and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever."

    You got that right!

  1. Akelamalu says:
    03 December, 2009 10:55

    I so agree with the sentiment - Never Give Up - there's always hope isn't there.

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    03 December, 2009 13:08

    Once again...you make us sit up and notice.

    well done Sir

  1. Mike Golch says:
    03 December, 2009 16:26

    Trav,these kinds of posts are inspirational to me.I thank you for them.Rock On!

  1. katherine. says:
    03 December, 2009 20:52

    ESPN reran their tribute...he left such a strong legacy.

  1. Anonymous says:
    04 December, 2009 09:53

    Thanks for this post. It was cancer that took Goodnight's mama . . . .

  1. Anonymous says:
    05 December, 2009 02:24
    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
  1. Meribah says:
    05 December, 2009 17:22

    Nice post, Trav. I like that motto: never give up!

  1. Durward Discussion says:
    06 December, 2009 06:36

    Hope you are enjoying your hiatus. Thank you for the excellent reminders that we are much much more than just the body.

  1. Black Cat says:
    06 December, 2009 21:30

    A good message to make a hiatus in your hiatus for. :)

  1. Desert Songbird says:
    30 December, 2009 21:53

    I really needed to read those words again, my friend. You don't know how badly I needed to read, "Don't give up. Don't ever give up."

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