I know that Jimmy Valvano is smiling as he is looking down from heaven!

He has to be so thrilled that his legacy of battling the dreaded disease of cancer is being fought so hard. Jimmy will not only be remembered for being a basketball coach and national champion, but as a man who battled to the bitter, premature end.

I am so proud of what the V Foundation has accomplished in such a short time. ESPN now has a week celebrating the life of Jimmy V and making people aware that cancer can strike at any time, hurting the people you love.

I am currently working on raising $1 million to fund a grant for research on pediatric cancer. Down here in Florida, we suffered a terrible loss when a young lady named Payton Wright lost her battle with cancer. You can get more details about the grant and make a donation here.

Tuesday night will be very special. Madison Square Garden will feature a tremendous doubleheader in the Jimmy V Classic. I can't wait to call the games between Kansas State and Notre Dame, followed by Memphis against USC.

My friends, three of the premier diaper dandies in college basketball will be in action. Michael Beasley of Kansas State, OJ Mayo of USC and Derrick Rose of Memphis are very special young players. They are worth the price of admission.

It will be a night where we remember Jimmy V. His famed speech from the first ESPYs will be played on the big screen at the Garden, and there won't be a dry eye in the place.

The basketball will be outstanding, as is the fight. We must beat this dreaded disease. At this time of year, where people give so much, please think about helping us out by calling 1-800-4-JIMMY V. The life you help save may be that of someone you know and love.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.