ESPN’s 2015 Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research broke the previously held record for fundraising with $3.2 million for the The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The most recent donation drive’s total surpassed the previous record set in 2014 by $1 million. Throughout nine years, Jimmy V Week has contributed $13.7 million to cancer research efforts.
Jimmy V Week 2015, which ran Dec. 2–8, saw the introduction of a new awareness campaign called “Your Fight is Our Fight” showing the real experience of cancer patients and their support systems as they deal with cancer diagnosis, the trials of chemotherapy and the relief of remission.
“This campaign was created to tell the powerful stories of the brave cancer fighters, survivors and supporters,” said Kevin Martinez, ESPN vice president of Corporate Citizenship, in a press release. “It’s these stories that inspire us to keep fighting. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who has joined us in this fight.”
Along with the generosity of individual donors, what helped push the total donations over $3 million was more than $1.2 million donated by Corona, Hooters, the Champions League and New York Road Runners with Team V.
In a press release, Susan Braun, CEO of The V Foundation, said, “ESPN, sponsors and fans created another extraordinary Jimmy V Week. As this support grows, through ESPN’s leadership and generosity, our ability to fight cancer escalates. Together, we will beat it!”
The V Foundation also recently announced a partnership with Medifast’s newly formed sports nutrition product line, and together they will launch special edition Dual Fuel products. Ten percent of the product sales will go toward The V Foundation.
“We are excited about the opportunity to launch the Dual Fuel sports nutrition product with Medifast, given their history and stellar reputation in the health and wellness industry,” Braun said in a press release. “The partnership is a natural fit for our organization, supporting athletes while also supporting our mission to help save lives through cancer research.”
