Coach Jake Gilliam's Fundraiser to Support Cancer Research

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! 

A little backstory about me: I am a 2017 graduate of Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, CA, where I played three years of varsity basketball. While in high school, I also coached for a youth club basketball program: Falcons Elite. Upon graduating from high school, I spent two years as a student-athlete on the Men's Basketball team at the University of San Diego. After those two years, I decided to pursue my passion of coaching basketball. As a junior at USD, I was an assistant coach at Torrey Pines High School under the legendary John Olive & continued my work with the Falcons Elite program. At the beginning of the 2020-21 season, I received an opportunity to join the staff at USD as a student assistant coach handling operational responsibilities. 

Everything in my life was normal until Wednesday of this week, when I received the life-changing news that I had testicular cancer. It was a sobering reminder of how quick everything in life can change. Next week I will be having surgery, and more will be known about the next steps in treatment at that time.

Over the past few days, I've decided that I want to turn this negative news for me personally into a positive. I am asking for your help in two ways: A) Spread awareness - if something isn't right with your body, get it checked out. See a doctor. B) If you are financially able, please direct your support to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The research the V Foundation funds is critical. By making a donation you will be supporting carefully vetted, cutting-edge research at prominent cancer centers nationwide. Hopefully we can one day get to a world where no one has to hear the words my family heard on Tuesday, February 2nd - "You have cancer."

Why the V Foundation? It was started by a fellow college basketball coach - Jim Valvano - and I hope that we can turn this diagnosis into a positive contribution for the future of cancer research. Please reach out to me with any questions. You can read more about the V Foundation at the bottom of this section. 

THANK YOU!

About the V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator. The Foundation has funded more than $250 million in cancer research grants nationwide. The V Foundation awards 100 percent of direct donations to cancer research and related programs. The V Foundation’s endowment covers administrative expenses. The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive award process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Committee. For more information on the V Foundation, please visit v.org.