In 2006, I lost my dad to lung cancer.
He was diagnosed in September 2005.
15 months later, he lost his life to this ruthless disease.
He was 57 years old.
Losing my dad was one of the worst experiences of my life.
Forget What Hurt You.
Never Forget What It Taught You.
I watched a man with thick calluses on both hands work long hours a day.
A man who came here uneducated, unable to speak the language, who taught me all I needed to know about faith and hard work by the simple eloquence of his example.
11/3/06
A Man Can Be A Father. It Takes Someone Special To Be A Dad
My dad was born in a remote village in Northern Portugal. He was the second oldest in a family of six siblings, three brothers, three sisters.
He served his country for several years in the army. When he was 20 years old, he met and soon after, married a wonderful woman (my mom). A few years later, they had two beautiful daughters.
Desiring a better life for himself and his children, he did all he had to do to create the opportunity for himself and his family to move to the United States in 1975. Just one year later, I was born.
He was a hard worker, working wherever and whenever necessary to provide for his family.
He loved his family.
He lived the way he was taught to live, by the lessons, wisdom, and words of advise from his dad.
It was these same lessons, wisdom, and words of advise that he would later pass onto me.
Work hard. Be respectful. Believe in yourself. Never settle for unhappiness.
He advised me to always live below my means, but when it came time to go on vacation, to go all out, do all I wanted to do, and not hold back. One of my favorites.
Above all else, my dad gave me hope.
Hope for all that is possible with hard work, persistence, time, and staying true to my values.
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”
~ Jim Valvano ~
Together We Can. Together We will.
There are many things that I work on, create, or am a part of that excite me. This project is one that I am extremely proud of and so very happy to announce.
The Wellness Bucket has partnered with The V Foundation
for Cancer Research.
Beginning September 2014, 4% of all sales made from The Wellness Bucket courses and products, will be donated to help find a cure for cancer. The Jimmy V Foundation is the perfect partnership for The Wellness Bucket. It stands for all we believe in; to help, to serve, to believe in all that is possible, and to make a difference in the lives of others.
Together we can and we will find a cure, once and for all, for this ruthless disease.
Against All Odds
Jimmy Valvano was an American college basketball coach and broadcaster. While serving as the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University, he won the 1983 NCAA Basketball Tournament against long odds. After his seemingly impossible win, Valvano is remembered for running up and down the court after winning the championship, seemingly in disbelief and looking for someone to hug.
Although an impressive victory, it was his inspirational 1993 ESPY Awards speech,given just eight weeks before he died of cancer, that would cement his legacy forever.
The V Foundation For Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was formed by ESPN and coach Jimmy Valvano in 1993. Jimmy’s ESPY speech still gives me goosebumps, and I’ve watched it over a dozen times. He passed away just 58 days after delivering this speech.
If you can’t see the video above, click here to watch it.
He was diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 46. He dreamed of finding a cure for cancer. He was passionate and committed, he wanted to see his fight through to victory.
He may not have gotten the chance to see that happen, but you and I, together, we can and will finish what he started. We will find a cure for this terrible disease.
“Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul.”
~ Jimmy V ~
Pass The V
I’d love for you to take a few minutes (4:53 to be exact), to learn how The V Foundation is making a difference in the fight against cancer in their “Pass the V” campaign and how you can get involved to help make a difference in the lives of others by helping to fund cancer research. Watch as we “Pass the V” across the nation in the video below. If you can’t see the video, click here to watch it.
Together we can and we will. Together, impossible is nothing.
This partnership with The Jimmy V Foundation is one of my proudest moments and one that I know my dad would have been proud of. I believe we will find a cure for cancer. It will happen in my lifetime. Together we can and we will.
Life is valuable and precious, and worth every ounce of effort to save and preserve.
To learn more about the Jimmy V foundation or to donate, please visit the website here.
I didn’t know who Jimmy V was until now, and what an inspiration! Thanks for sharing Mike!
Thanks for the comment Goodwin. Jimmy V was and still is an incredible inspiration. “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”
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