The V Foundation was always a big inspiration to our grandfather, Joe Koslick, because soon after Jim Valvano gave his ESPY’s speech, our grandfather was diagnosed with Leukemia. After being diagnosed, Coach Koz lived by the V Foundation's motto - "Don't Give Up... Don't Ever Give Up!"® - and he wore a V Foundation t-shirt with that motto to all of his chemotherapy treatments. The V Foundation and Jim Valvano's 1993 ESPYs speech helped him stay positive and strong during his 18 year battle with leukemia. To see the speech that had such an impact on our grandfather, follow the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/JimmyV.ESPY.Speech

My brother, Tommy, started the Little Ballers Basketball Camp nine summers ago when he needed service hours for Confirmation. Tommy had our grandfather, a former high school basketball coach, speak at the first camp as a “guest speaker,” but then he was too sick with Leukemia to come and speak at the next summer's camp. He passed away a few months later in November 2011.

Since our grandfather’s passing, we have been donating all the money raised from LBBC to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. To date, we have raised more than $19,000 in total donations for The V Foundation.

After being an LBBC camper for the first four years and then helping Tommy for three years, I will be running the camp again this summer for a third year with my friends Dominic and Brett. I really look forward to continuing the LBBC legacy.

I hope you will help us continue the fight against cancer. Thank you in advance for all of your donations.

~ Johnny Kelly