My name is Derek Givens and I am a Cancer Survivor of Malignant Melanoma. In 1998, I was diagnosed with an extremely poor prognosis two years after I got married. With my whole life ahead of me, I had no idea where to turn. I was scared, but I knew I wanted to fight this disease. I eventually found the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica. Dr. Morton was just starting a cutting edge therapy for people like me and developed taking actual melanoma cells and splicing them and injecting them back into cancer to fight it. After pretty invasive surgery, I have been over ten years clean. The foundation was strong then, and stronger now constantly searching for better ways to combat this horrendous killer. I am so happy and grateful for what the foundation has done not only for me but for others who are searching for help. I am now cancer-free, still married to the love of my life with two amazing children. I take the “Block The Blaze” cause very seriously and do my best to spread awareness of how dangerous the sun can be. Wear Sunscreen, and reapply. Be active, Be healthy, and spread the word.

Thank You,
Derek Givens

Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s.Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s

Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s. Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s

We’re pleased to announce that as of this fall, the Block the Blaze program has reached over 500,000 young people! Despite the challenges this year has brought on due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been able to continue sun safety education through webinars, collaborative lesson planning with schools, and presentations on the beach throughout the past summer!

Block the Blaze is a John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) funded youth skin cancer education program. Block the Blaze knows it unrealistic to ask youth to avoid the sun, in fact, Block the Blaze encourages youth to be outdoors, active and healthy, we just teach them how to do so safely!

Skin cancer is the most common cancer with 1 in 5 Americans being diagnosed in their lifetime. Having just one blistering sunburn in adolescent years doubles the risk of developing melanoma. We educate youth on the importance of sun safety through the 5 sun-safe tips and self-screening with the ABCDEs of melanoma. Block the Blaze would like to extend our sincere appreciation for program participants and partners, including the California Surf Lifesaving Association, the United States Lifesaving Association, TropicSport, teachers, staff and interns.

With grit and gratitude,
Ethan Wayne
Chairman, John Wayne Cancer Foundation

Devon Rae Fought Cancer with Grit and Won! Here’s her story.

“I am a brain cancer survivor who has been fighting along-side John Wayne Cancer Foundation doctors for almost three years now. In 2017, I had brain surgery to take out a tumor about the size of a lime. I had a 100% resection, but I lost mobility on the entire left side of my body. It took me about two weeks to learn how to walk again and I will never take my body for granted ever again. Because of a clinical trial, I am healthy now, so now I’m taking this opportunity to encourage everyone to fight back against cancer. And that’s where all of you trail runners can play a part, by running for those who can’t. I want to thank everyone who participates in the John Wayne Grit Series trail runs. Thank you for funding the urgently needed cancer research that saves lives like mine. Let’s cure cancer together!”

Be part of the team that’s fighting cancer with Courage, Strength, and Grit and participate in honor or memory of family and friends who have been affected by cancer. Be part of the team that’s fighting cancer with Courage, Strength, and Grit and participate in honor or memory of family and friends who have been affected by cancer.Be part of the team that’s fighting cancer with Courage, Strength, and Grit and participate in honor or memory of family and friends who have been affected by cancer. Be part of the team that’s fighting cancer with Courage, Strength, and Grit and participate in honor or memory of family and friends who have been affected by cancer. Be part of the team that’s fighting cancer with Courage, Strength, and Grit and participate in honor or memory of family and friends who have been affected by cancer. Be part of the team that’s fighting cancer with Courage, Strength, and Grit and participate in honor or memory of family and friends who have been affected by cancer.

In 2019, we asked, “Are you tough enough to hit the trails and help in the fight against cancer?” You responded to the challenge by running and walking in honor of those who have gone before us and those who are currently fighting cancer. The John Wayne Grit Series was born from your courage, strength and grit. The first 2 fun runs and walks were in October. The first one was located Lone Pine, CA and the second one was located in Ridgway, CO. There was something for everyone on the courses that were suited to all fitness levels. You ran and walked through the ranches and country where The Duke’s most famous movies were filmed. And, along the way you helped those fighting cancer, because every step you took benefited the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. You helped make it possible to give patients a fighting chance to beat the odds. We can’t wait to announce the John Wayne Grit Series 2020 locations, so stay tuned by checking our social media and website regularly. Thank You and Let’s make 2020 the year we end cancer.

Thank You to all our GRITTY UP Supporters for making this year’s event the biggest ever! We are grateful for all of your efforts to fight cancer side by side with John Wayne. Thank you to all of the volunteers, fundraisers, donors, sponsors and GritCycle staff for creating a record setting event. Bike reservations and party tickets flew off the shelves and fundraising efforts have been at an all-time high. The combined work of everyone involved has raised over $430,000 for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation!!!

Congratulations and thank you for exceeding the fundraising goal of $400,000. Your generous support has moved us forward, and because of your efforts we are closer to reaching our vision of families living cancer-free. Your contributions help advance pioneering cancer research, education, awareness and support to improve patients’ outcomes and save lives. Thank you for being part of the Showdown in the fight against cancer. Together we will win the fight against cancer with GRIT! We are looking forward to the 2020 Gritty Up. Let’s make 2020 the year we end cancer.

This year Team John Wayne and the John Wayne Cancer Foundation had one of the most incredible OC Marathon’s to date! We are grateful for the fundraisers, donors, sponsors, and volunteers. Together we raised over $94,000 to help cancer patients beat the odds. Special thanks to Team Tom for being JWCF’s top fundraising team to date, in honor of their dad Tom, and to celebrate his 20th anniversary of fighting cancer with grit. The Mile 10 Water Station (aka John Wayne Waterin’ Hole) was bigger, brighter and louder while the Finish Line Tent hosted some great post-race snacks, refreshments, lounging and photo-taking opportunities. Thank you to our new sponsor MWS Executive Coaching for the Courage Reception and for the returning sponsors: Orangetheory Fitness, Rutan & Tucker and Vivante Living with a special shout out to Kohl’s and Trader Joe’s for their continued assistance and support. We would also like to thank all the volunteers who arrived before the sun came up to make the Waterin’ Hole the most energetic and lively it’s ever been. A sincere thank you goes to all those who donated, fundraised and participated in this year’s 5K, half marathon or full marathon. Together we will continue the fight against cancer with GRIT and ultimately, we will win! We are looking forward to the 2020 OC Marathon. Let’s make 2020 the year we end cancer.