BASKETBALL: CYO hoops tourney coming to YardleySt. John the Evangelist parish remembers Jimmy V

Plans are underway for the 6th annual Jimmy V CYO Basketball Tournament to be held Feb. 19 through the 22 at St. John the Evangelist's parish center in Yardley.

This event was established six years ago, based on a young girl's - Kaity Moonan's - wish to make a difference and the relationship that she and the St. John’s Parish Community have developed with the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The tournament provides an opportunity for nearly 400 CYO basketball players to play in a fun environment. Players are introduced before the games.

There will be a silent auction, commemorative T-shirts and a Remembrance Wall. A disc jockey will be playing music for your listening pleasure.

Jim Valvano’s famous 'Never give up' speech that he gave at the ESPY awards shortly before he passed away from this dreaded disease will be playing in the lobby.

Last year, over 2000 people came to the event over the four days it was held and over $22,000 was raised for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Each year, the event recognizes an individual or family who has been affected cancer. This year, will be dedicated to the Berry family of Yardley.

Family patriarch Chris Berry lost his battle to Leukemia at age 43 last spring. His daughter Nicole is fighting Osteosarcoma, which she contracted early last year and is responding well to treatment.

Nancy Berry and her children--Nicole, who is a Junior at Villa Joseph Marie, Lauren who is at Temple University and Matt, who is a 5th-grader at St. Ignatius--are wonderful people as well as our neighbors and friends.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the event, donating money or items to be used for a raffle or silent auction, please call Linda Carl at (215) 428-1777.