Tre Jones Presenting 2025 Chicago Epicurean

🏆 SOUND BYTES & CORE BRAND POINTS
[00:10:07] Tre Jones on standing with the V Foundation
“It is an honor to stand with the V Foundation and champion cancer research so more families can celebrate some victories that we have for my family to Earth. Thank you for helping make stories like ours possible. Thank you.”
[00:14:44] Jamie Valvano on everyday victories over cancer
“Victory over cancer isn’t something that’s gonna happen far into the future, but every single day in hospitals across the country, people are sitting down and they’re developing a plan with their doctors. So they can not only survive a cancer diagnosis, but they can thrive.”
👩‍👦 FAMILY, RESILIENCE & GRATITUDE
[00:00:30] On his mom’s strength
“She was a rock for me in my childhood, the rock for our entire family… couldn’t be more proud of everything she’s been through… just couldn’t be happier she’s here with us still to this day.”
[00:01:14] A true coach and role model
“She was our basketball coach, baseball coach, football, track… she did everything for us. She was our head coach even. And you don’t see that a lot… usually winning too, so… some men had some problems with that, but it didn’t bother her at all.”
💔 DIAGNOSIS & THE IMPACT OF CANCER
[00:02:14] When his mom told him she had cancer
“She broke the news to me that she had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. In that moment, my whole world just came to a pause… you don’t know what the future holds anymore.”
[00:03:07] Priorities shifted immediately
“I was living my dream being at Duke, and it just didn’t matter anymore… the top priority had then switched to her and her health.”
[00:05:54] The emotional toll of being far from home
“I grew up a Duke fan. I didn’t want to be in any other place until I found out about this news… there’d be days I didn’t want to go to practice… I just wanted to get on a flight and fly home.”
[00:06:36] First time seeing her during treatment
“She had lost her hair, she had begun to lose weight… I’ll never forget seeing her for that first time again… a whole new wave hit me of reality that my mom is really battling breast cancer.”
🧬 CANCER RESEARCH & HOPE
[00:07:52] Cancer research saved her life
“Because of the advances in the research in cancer, after just 10 months, my mom was officially cancer free.”
[00:08:14] Cancer research gave him his milestones
“Cancer research has allowed me to be in some of the most important moments of my life with my mom still… I’ve been drafted in the NBA… she walked me down the aisle of my wedding… and watched my wife and I bring in our three beautiful daughters.”
[00:09:24] Lifelong dreams kept alive
“I’ve never imagined having to walk down the aisle of my wedding without my mom in my arm until she broke the news to me… and it’s because of everyone in this room… that she was able to be here.”
💖 TRIBUTE TO DEBBIE JONES
[00:13:34] Jamie Valvano to Debbie Jones
“Debbie, I know that we’ve never met before, but we share a special connection. We are two of the 18 million cancer survivors across the United States. We also are a tangible example of thriving and surviving after a cancer diagnosis.”
🎓 RESEARCH GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT
[00:15:13] $600,000 V Foundation grant named for Debbie Jones
“Just to repeat what Jamie just said, on behalf of V Foundation and the Chicago Epicurean, Debbie Jones, you are having a 600,000 dollar research grant named in your honor.”
[00:14:15] Jamie Valvano announcing the grant recipient
“Dr. Martina Damo… is doing research and work at the University of Chicago’s Comprehensive Cancer Center… she’s gonna be able to continue that lifesaving research and discovery because of your efforts.”

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