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Baptist Health Foundation recently announced that Udonis Haslem, forward and team captain for the Miami Heat, has joined the Heat. Help. Cure. Bounce Back from Cancer fundraising effort for Baptist Health’s Miami Cancer Institute and will participate in the event set for Mar. 13. Haslem will help promote the important initiative and celebrate with participants at the FTX Arena finish line the day of the event.
Officials are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and have various contingency plans in place and appropriate safety measures will be followed.
Haslem, a Miami native who has three NBA championships and is the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder, recently was named Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Hometown Hero for his community service and goodwill initiatives. Participating in Bounce Back from Cancer is particularly meaningful to him, as his mother and father both died of cancer.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of Bounce Back from Cancer because it combines two of my passions — basketball and supporting the community,” Haslem said. “It’s a grassroots event that encourages people of all ages to get involved and raise money for research to end this devastating disease.”
Bounce Back from Cancer is the signature event of Heat. Help. Cure., a partnership between the Miami Heat and Baptist Health South Florida to help raise funds for Miami Cancer Institute. In 2021, the event brought together more then 2,400 unique donors, including cancer survivors and their supporters, leaders and staff from the Miami Heat and Miami Cancer Institute, sports fans and community members to help fulfill the Institute’s vision of a world without cancer. Together, participants raised more than $1 million to support groundbreaking cancer research, programs and patient care at Miami Cancer Institute. In 2022, the event has extended its fundraising goal to $2 million.
“We are thrilled to have Miami’s own hometown hero, Udonis Haslem, on board for Bounce Back from Cancer,” said Joe Natoli, Baptist Health’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer. “He’s an inspiration to this community both on and off the court. With his help, we’re mobilizing more participants and sponsors than ever, and making the 2022 event a huge win for Miami Cancer Institute.”
Miami Cancer Institute, which opened in 2017, cares for an average of 1,200 patients each day. The Institute provides unparalleled expertise in individual cancers, and access to the world’s latest cancer discoveries, most effective treatments and best outcomes — all in South Florida.
“One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes,” said Michael Zinner, MD, Miami Cancer Institute’s CEO and executive medical director.
“Udonis Haslem has seen firsthand the effects this disease can have on the entire family.
The physicians, researchers and staff of Miami Cancer Institure are very grateful for his support of Bounce Back from Cancer.”
