100 MILLION REASONS TO BELIEVE

I remember when my father was diagnosed with cancer.  I was 20 years old and had just completed my sophomore year in college.  I left school so that I could spend time with my family.  We all thought that with my father's grim diagnosis he would spend his days at home surrounded by loved ones, but we severely underestimated him.  As his body grew weaker his spirit soared.  He never wasted a day asking the question, "why me?"  But instead, he thought to himself, "why not me?"  Why can't I use my voice to make a difference so that something good can come from my suffering?  And so he shared his struggle with anyone that would listen.

I was in the audience when he announced the establishment of The V Foundation at the inaugural  ESPY Awards.  He was weak and in pain and we doubted that he would be able to make it on stage.  He not only was able to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, but he delivered the speech he was born to give.  He shared his spirit and essence with the world and inspired us all.  I sat there as a grieving daughter and the words just washed over me.  As he was helped back to his seat, he leaned over and whispered..."Did I do okay?"  I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time as I reassured him.

13 years later, I sat in my kitchen holding my bald head in my hands as I wept.  I had become my worst nightmare....a cancer patient.  My mother was making me something to eat and trying to encourage me not to lose heart.  My sister LeeAnn had left her life in New York to come care for my two small children.  The hardest part was the anger I felt toward my father.  I had inherited a genetic mutation from him that made me more susceptible to breast cancer and many other forms of the disease.  I thought he had left me alone when I needed him most.  As I sat there having my own pity party, I heard my father's voice as clear as if he were in the room with me.  He said, "We are starting The V Foundation for Cancer Research.  It may not save my life, it may save my children's lives, it may save someone you love."  In that instant, I realized that my Dad had not deserted me.  I had been given a second chance to live...one that he did not receive.  He knew that they key to saving lives was to fund cancer research.  He started The V Foundation for me and anyone facing this disease.

Perhaps you have not been personally touched by cancer, however anyone reading my words is a survivor. Suffering is an inescapable part of the human condition. I have discovered that through our pain we can experience miracles.  Through darkness we can find light.  My father showed me that there is a plan and a divine purpose for each of our lives.  When I start to doubt or fear I think about The V Foundation and I am reminded that there are:

100 million reasons to not give up
100 million reasons to hope
100 million reasons to believe in a world without cancer

Check out http://www.jimmyv.org/ to listen to the ESPY speech and see firsthand what has been done with the $100 million that has been raised because one man refused to give up.

March 4, 1993
Inaugural ESPY Awards