Five columns into this, I have a question.

Do we know each other well enough yet for me to ask your help? I hope so.

But before I do that, let me tell you why I think you might want to help.

Here are the reasons:

1) Cancer has probably affected someone you know and you want to help fight it.

2) The V Foundation for Cancer research was just given another 4 star rating by Charity Navigator — the highest level rating they give for the prudent management of nonprofit organizations.

3) You would like to see the money stay locally.

4) You like golf and fun.

Let’s take these in order, shall we?

First, over 500,000 people will die from cancer this year. One of four of us will get it at some point in our lifetime.

And yet we are making great strides every day in the fight. Twenty five years ago the five-year survival rate for certain types of breast cancer was 20 percent. It is currently over 80 percent for those same types of cancer.

The numbers are similar for prostate cancer. And not only are patients surviving, they are thriving. Case in point — since 2000, two NCAA men’s national championship coaches (Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim), plus a World Series manager (Joe Torre) are cancer survivors. IU’s tremendously popular football coach — Terry Hoeppner — returned from not one, but two, cancer surgeries to lead his team to a late season victories this past year.

Cancer survivors continue to succeed, and lead full, active lives — but we need to do even more.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was started in 1993 by my late brother Jim — himself a cancer victim — and ESPN.

In the little more than 13 years of its existence, The V Foundation has raised over $50 million dollars for cancer research and funded over 200 scientists coast-to-coast in groundbreaking and important research.

The foundation also got exciting news a few months ago.

The Endowment of the Foundation is now fully funded, so the operating expenses can now come completely from interest from the endowment. This means that 100 percent of all the money raised goes directly to cancer research. Make a donation of one dollar, one million dollars, or any amount in between, and every cent goes right to research.

(If I sound proud, forgive me, I am on the Board of the V Foundation.)

Locally, the Foundation has given over $125,000 to Kosair Children’s Hospital, both to build a research classroom and to help fund a two-year research project into children’s cancer. And we intend to do even more this year.

Which leads to your involvement. If you like golf, you want to play world famous Pebble Beach. Well now you can, without leaving Southern Indiana. And all it will cost is $25. Plus we will throw in lunch. How is that for a deal?

Here are the details.

On Thursday, February 15, Indoor Golf of Indiana in Clarksville will host a golf outing (How great is that to have a golf outing in February?). We will play two-man teams, with two flights, one at 10 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.. The round will only take about 2 hours tops, plenty of time to get out of or back to the office. Or play in both flights. Why not? We will serve lunch for all players at noon, and there will be tons of door prizes, gifts for everyone, and of course awards to the winners, all for just $25 per player. And, thanks to the generosity of the good people at Indoor Golf of Indiana, every penny of that will go the V Foundation.

Plus, you will have a great time. If you have never played at Indoor Golf, you are in for a treat. If, like me, you are a regular, you know how much fun it is.

So here we are at the start again. Won’t you help make this a great day of fun, fellowship and fund raising? Grab a friend and put in a team. Bring the office and put in many teams. Donate a door prize. But come on out and help fight cancer. And play golf at Pebble Beach in February — without leaving home.

E-mail me at bobvshow@yahoo.com or call 812-283-1122 for more details, to register a team, or to help in any other way. Thank you — and remember… Don’t Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up!

Bob Valvano is a Sellersburg resident. He can be reached at bobvshow@yahoo.com