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Ironclad // Motivation and hard-won wisdom
08.13.2026
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RESILIENCE

Jim Valvano's 'Never Give Up' Spirit Lives On Through His Daughter's Own Survival

  1. Jamie Valvano, daughter of the late coach Jim Valvano, was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years after his famous 1993 ESPY speech -- and survived thanks to research funded by his V Foundation.
  2. She now speaks publicly about the three things her father said were needed to live an extraordinary life: dreams, a supportive team, and the will to persevere.
  3. She headlined the Victory Through Adversity fundraiser in Rochester, NY on May 31, 2026, benefiting a new basketball academy for young girls.

Rochester Business Journal columnist Scott Pitoniak profiled Jamie Valvano, whose father's 1993 'don't ever give up' speech and cancer-research foundation ended up saving her own life more than a decade later.

Why it matters

It's a rare case where a public figure's words about perseverance were literally, materially tested and proven true within his own family.

What to watch

Jamie Valvano continues touring as a speaker for the V Foundation, which has raised more than $500 million for cancer research since 1993.

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Sources
Rochester Business Journal
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