Tar Heels dribble through the UNC campus on Sunday morning.
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Tar Heels Dribble For A Great Cause
August 29, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Student-Athlete Development, Carolina Outreach
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The UNC men's and women's basketball teams spend lots of time dribbling, but Sunday morning that basic skill took on new meaning. The Tar Heels joined fellow Carolina squads and community members for the school's first Dribble for Victory Over Cancer event, raising funds for pediatric cancer research.
Hundreds of Tar Heels gathered at Carmichael Arena for an opening ceremony then – after a send-off from the UNC band and cheerleaders – dribbled through campus, past the Old Well and Bell Tower, before meeting back at Carmichael to honor top fundraisers.
Proceeds from the event will bolster pediatric cancer research being conducted at the UNC Children's Research Institute through the Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer, a specialized grant fund at the V Foundation. UNC partnered with the V Foundation and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) for Sunday's event.
For one women's basketball team member, the morning held extra meaning. Alexandra Zelaya, a junior forward from Goodyear, Ariz., was thinking of her older sister, Adriana, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 9. Adriana is now a second-year student at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry.
"Fortunately she beat cancer, which was a victory for so many people," Alexandra Zelaya said after Sunday's event. "To see a community come together for pediatric cancer warms my heart – this affects so many families and I carry my sister's strength with me every day. While my family gets to celebrate 14 years cancer-free I also dribbled for all those who were not able to be there dribbling with us today."
Dribble for Victory Over Cancer is now in its 15th year nationally and has raised more than $2 million in the fight against pediatric cancer. After starting at UCLA and St. John's, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation has partnered with the V Foundation to expand The Dribble to other campuses, with UNC participating this year for the first time.
After a steamy walk through campus on a humid morning, the dribblers again gathered in the air conditioning at Carmichael, with many taking advantage of the opportunity to shoot a few baskets and pose for photos with favorite Tar Heel student-athletes. In addition to the basketball teams, the gymnastics, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, women's tennis and wrestling teams all took part.
Although the Sunday morning mood was festive, those participating kept in mind the high stakes of the goal. Before the walk, the crowd silently honored a young patient who had lost the battle with cancer, and banners honoring children who are currently fighting lined Carmichael Drive as the dribblers headed out to campus.
"We're here for one reason – to cure pediatric cancer," Shane Jacobson, CEO of the V Foundation, told the crowd as the event wrapped up. "And with your help, we've got cancer on the run."
To donate, click here.
For more information on the V Foundation, visit v.org.
For more information on the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), visit PCRF-kids.org.
Hundreds of Tar Heels gathered at Carmichael Arena for an opening ceremony then – after a send-off from the UNC band and cheerleaders – dribbled through campus, past the Old Well and Bell Tower, before meeting back at Carmichael to honor top fundraisers.
Proceeds from the event will bolster pediatric cancer research being conducted at the UNC Children's Research Institute through the Dick Vitale Fund for Pediatric Cancer, a specialized grant fund at the V Foundation. UNC partnered with the V Foundation and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) for Sunday's event.
For one women's basketball team member, the morning held extra meaning. Alexandra Zelaya, a junior forward from Goodyear, Ariz., was thinking of her older sister, Adriana, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 9. Adriana is now a second-year student at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry.
"Fortunately she beat cancer, which was a victory for so many people," Alexandra Zelaya said after Sunday's event. "To see a community come together for pediatric cancer warms my heart – this affects so many families and I carry my sister's strength with me every day. While my family gets to celebrate 14 years cancer-free I also dribbled for all those who were not able to be there dribbling with us today."
Dribble for Victory Over Cancer is now in its 15th year nationally and has raised more than $2 million in the fight against pediatric cancer. After starting at UCLA and St. John's, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation has partnered with the V Foundation to expand The Dribble to other campuses, with UNC participating this year for the first time.
After a steamy walk through campus on a humid morning, the dribblers again gathered in the air conditioning at Carmichael, with many taking advantage of the opportunity to shoot a few baskets and pose for photos with favorite Tar Heel student-athletes. In addition to the basketball teams, the gymnastics, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, women's tennis and wrestling teams all took part.
Although the Sunday morning mood was festive, those participating kept in mind the high stakes of the goal. Before the walk, the crowd silently honored a young patient who had lost the battle with cancer, and banners honoring children who are currently fighting lined Carmichael Drive as the dribblers headed out to campus.
"We're here for one reason – to cure pediatric cancer," Shane Jacobson, CEO of the V Foundation, told the crowd as the event wrapped up. "And with your help, we've got cancer on the run."
To donate, click here.
For more information on the V Foundation, visit v.org.
For more information on the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF), visit PCRF-kids.org.
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