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DURHAM, N.C. - Duke Women's Tennis has teamed up with The V Foundation for Cancer Research to create a new program to raise funds for cancer research called "Help Cancer Meet Its Match."
Prior to the start of the 2002-03 season, fans and friends of the Duke Women's Tennis program are invited to make a pledge for every set the team will win over the course of the upcoming year. Donors may also simply make a "straight" donation in honor of Duke Women's Tennis to The Foundation.
Last season, the Blue Devils won 450 sets on their way to advancing to the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Duke finished the season ranked sixth nationally with a 25-5 overall record. The Blue Devils return eight letterwinners in 2002-03 and welcome a high rated recruiting class.
Duke women's tennis coach Jamie Ashworth suggested the fundraiser to The V Foundation and his team was quick to take up the cause. Help Cancer Meet Its Match is the first fundraising program to be conducted by a women's collegiate team to benefit The V Foundation.
"We are proud to partner with The V Foundation and our team is pleased to adopt this cause," said Ashworth. "Our players are aware that cancer will afflict one of every three women in their lifetime and this is our way to help fight this disease that will touch us all at some time," he added.
Ashworth also expressed hope that other collegiate tennis teams will adopt the idea and run a Help Cancer Meet Its Match fundraiser on their own campuses.
"We will encourage the entire collegiate tennis community to join us in this cause," Ashworth concluded
"Duke tennis has come up with a unique way to provide funding for cancer research and we are proud to have these outstanding student-athletes participate in our cause and bring their family, friends and fans into the program," said Foundation CEO Nick Valvano.
"The V Foundation has a long history with Duke and its Medical Center, and we're proud have the Blue Devil women become an integral part of that," Valvano concluded.
Since 1994, The V Foundation has funded seven cancer research grants at Duke including the Jimmy V Day Hospital at Duke Children's Hospital and the recently announced Jim Valvano Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Cancer Research. In all, The Foundation has awarded nearly $1.2 million dollars to Duke for cancer research and causes.
Anyone interested in supporting the Duke Women's Tennis year-long Help Cancer Meet Its Match fundraiser by making a pledge or donation can contact the Duke Women's Tennis Office at (919)668-0345 or V Foundation Program Coordinator Stephanie Flanagan at (919)380-9505.
ESPN and the late Jim Valvano founded the V Foundation for Cancer Research in 1993. To date The Foundation has raised over $24 million and awarded over 160 cancer research and awareness grants.
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