The V Foundation Wine Celebration

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Coach K took the stage for the 11th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration raising a total of $2.25 million for critical cancer research. The event, a signature fundraiser for The V Foundation, has raised more than $32 million in the Napa Valley. Gathered under a gossamer blue and green tent accented by hundreds of orchids in the courtyard of Nickel & Nickel winery, 440 guests were treated to an inspiring speech by Duke Coaching Legend Mike “K” Krzyzewski who shared his personal experiences at the 2008 Olympics, and fond memories of his friend Jim Valvano, urging everyone in the room to bid big, “...because cancer doesn’t recognize a recession.” He reminded everyone that the time to step up is when a team is challenged.

“Clearly it’s a challenging year for fundraising,” shares Bob Lloyd, Chairman of The V Foundation. “But we have an incredible team, and it’s a pretty powerful thing to be able to tell people that every cent of their donation will be applied directly to cancer research. Jim said, “Don’t give up…don’t ever give up,” and come what may, until we’ve uncovered a cure we won’t. After a decade of that kind of commitment, our donors know we’re very serious and are willing to come back and pledge their support.” and coMe they did! Returning after an Olympic Gold Medal win in Beijing, popular Wine Celebration host, and Head Coach of Men’s Basketball at Duke University Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski and his wife Mickie joined celebrity guests, Steve Bornstein, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NFL Network, Donna Orender, President, WNBA, Grant Hill of the Phoenix Suns, Mike Tirico of Monday Night Football and NBA Basketball, Mike Fratello TNT NBA basketball color commentator, Steve Lavin, former UCLA coach and ESPN commentator, Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame coach and current ESPN/ABC commentator, and Lesley Visser, the first woman to receive the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Peter Rozelle Radio- Television Award.

The two day event featured elegant dinners at Caymus Vineyards, Del Dotto Vineyards, Frank Family Vineyards, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Rudd Winery & Vineyards and Vineyard 29, and culminated in a glorious gala at Nickel & Nickel Winery with a private performance by The Pointer Sisters.

“Mutual commitment helps overcome the fear of failure —
especially when people are part of a team sharing and achieving goals.”

— Mike Krzyzewski

See you later cancergator!!

Emily Miner is cancer free! Emily Miner gave up smoking at age 6. "I was on a camping trip with my cousins," the 39-year-old Californian recalls. As the family sat around the campfire, her uncle lit a cigar. Intrigued by the sharp scent of the smoke, Emily persuaded him to let her try it. "I took a huge puff and turned green," she says. "That was it for me."

Thirty years later, Emily was a picture of healthy living: She ran a family winery in Napa Valley with her husband, Dave, had two young daughters, and was training for a half-marathon. So the discovery that a deadly disease was ravaging her was nothing short of shocking.

It started out as back pain, a recurring twinge. When in mid January 2008, an MRI showed a tumor on her spine and spots on her lungs, Emily and her oncologist assumed it must be breast cancer that had spread, a diagnosis not unknown in young, healthy women. No one was prepared for the biopsy result, which showed that these were actually symptoms of Stage IV lung cancer. It had metastasized to her spine. In August 2009, Emily Miner bravely took the stage at the V Foundation Wine Celebration and was awarded as the Vintners Grant Recipient. In a touching, heartfelt moment, Emily spoke to the guests and expressed gratitude for their support of lung cancer research in her honor. As a tribute, guests donated over $700,000 to the Fund-A-Need during the auction. The grant will be made in Emily’s name, who was recently featured as the “New Face of Cancer” in Women’s Health magazine. By November of 2009, doctors were able to shrink the cancer into one lobe of her lung and successfully remove all of the cancer and lymph nodes at USCF. In January 2010, Emily Miner awaited her PET scan results ...