Los Angeles, Calif. - Top X Games athletes and more than 60 talented artists across the country have joined forces in creating original, one-of-a-kind skate decks to raise money for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. X Games artists, which will include Moto X riders Kenny Bartram and Mike Metzger and BMX rider Ryan Nyquist who will be painting a BMX bike frame will autograph their decks which incorporate a stylized V logo. ESPN founded The V Foundation with the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator
Jim Valvano in 1993. Jim's very public 10-month battle with cancer was immortalized with the inspiring speech he delivered at the first ESPY Awards a few weeks prior to his passing. His favorite coaching phrase became the battle cry for friends and fans to follow in the fight against cancer -
"Don't Give Up . . . Don't Ever Give Up!"®
It was announced at Winter X Games 10 that X Games athletes
Kenny Bartram,
Tricia Byrnes and
Mat Hoffman will serve as spokespeople for X Games V Foundation initiatives. The three athletes, all of whom have had family members impacted by cancer, will collaborate with The Foundation on a variety of initiatives in an effort to expand the reach and awareness of the cause within the X Games fan base.