Bounce Back from CancerTM Returns to the Streets of Miami to Benefit Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute
MIAMI, FL - February 9, 2024 - Bounce Back from CancerTM, a partnership between Baptist Health Foundation and The Miami HEAT, will once again unite the South Florida community to dribble or walk on Saturday, March 16, 2024, and raise funds towards this year’s goal of $4 million to benefit Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health Cancer Care.
Now in its sixth year, Bounce Back from CancerTM is a grassroots, community-wide, family-friendly event that has raised over $6.5 million cumulatively for research at the Institute since 2018. In 2023, the event hosted nearly 1,600 registered participants and 6,483 unique donors — both more than double the previous year.
Participants and teams can choose to dribble or walk a 14.2- or 2-mile course — from either Miami Cancer Institute or The Underline’s Brickell Backyard — to the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami. Donations are pledged in support of a participant or team. All participants receive a signature Pineapple Basketball to dribble at the event, as well as a Bounce Back “swag bag” of branded merchandise. Participants who complete the 14.2-mile Bounce Back Challenge will receive a basketball autographed by a Miami HEAT player or legend.
Miami native and former HEAT captain Udonis Haslem reprises his role this year as Bounce Back from CancerTM brand ambassador. He will greet and rally participants at The Underline the day of the event and lead the celebration at the arena at the end of the walk.
“Bounce Back from CancerTM is making great progress in 2024,” said Joe Natoli, chief administrative officer for Baptist Health. “We’ve already received $2 million in sponsorships and donations, which is up significantly year over year. More people in our community are familiar with Bounce Back and its support of Miami Cancer Institute, and they’re eager to get involved in this great cause. Every dollar makes a difference.”
This year’s event features three top fundraising levels: MVPs, who commit to raising a minimum of $50,000; Champions, who raise $25,000; and All Stars, who raise $2,500. These “key players” are collectively responsible for 60% of the funds raised for the cause, and eligible for special recognition, autographed jerseys and other opportunities.
“We are so grateful to our MVPs, Champions and All-Stars,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “They come from all walks of life — physicians, cancer survivors, friends and family members. The fight against cancer is very meaningful to a lot of people, and these top fundraisers are passionate about supporting those who are saving lives every day.”
Richard A. Berkowitz, JD, CPA, chair of Bounce Back from Cancer and founding and executive chairman of Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs, added, “We encourage everyone who has been affected by cancer to join us on March 16. Together we can make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and improve efforts to find new treatment options and cures.”
For more information about Bounce Back from CancerTM, visit BounceBackfromCancer.net.
About Baptist Health Foundation
The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation.
About Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute
Miami Cancer Institute brings to South Florida access to personalized clinical treatments and comprehensive support services delivered with unparalleled compassion. No other cancer program in the region has the combination of cancer-fighting expertise and advanced technology—including the first proton therapy center in South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean, and one of the only radiation oncology programs in the world with each of the newest radiation therapies in one place—to diagnose and deliver precise cancer treatments that achieve the best outcomes and improve the lives of cancer patients. The Institute offers an impressive roster of established community oncologists and renowned experts, clinical researchers and genomic scientists recruited from the nation’s top cancer centers. Selected as Florida’s only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer (MSK) Alliance, Miami Cancer Institute is part of a meaningful clinical collaboration that affords patients in South Florida access to innovative treatments and ensures that the standards of care developed by their multidisciplinary disease management teams match those at MSK.
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and Baptist Health Foundation are part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 27,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned institutes specializing in cancer care, brain and spine care, heart and vascular care and orthopedic care. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and The Baptist Health PineApp, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and is the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
###
