JMU's Evans is V Foundation Comeback Award winner

James Madison's Dawn Evans has added another accolade to her laundry list.

The senior is this year's recipient of the V Foundation Comeback Award. Evans has battled focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease that affects the kidney filtering system. Evans has led the Dukes to back-to-back CAA Tournament titles and is an ambassador for the NephCure Foundation.

This award is given annually by The V Foundation for Cancer Research in collaboration with ESPN. The award will be announced Tuesday during ESPN's basketball coverage (approximately 9 p.m. on ESPN2) and presented to Evans on the James Madison campus at a later date.

Dawn Evans exemplifies "the don't give up' spirit that is the cornerstone of The V Foundation," said The V Foundation CEO, Nick Valvano. "We are proud to welcome Dawn as the recipient of the 2011 V Foundation Comeback Award. She will join an inspirational group of young people who have received this award before her."


The V Foundation Comeback Award is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all NCAA divisions. It is awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma.

The award is presented in memory of Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation. In his memorable speech at ESPN‟s inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation,