About the James Blake Foundation
Thomas Blake Sr. lost his battle with gastric cancer in 2004. Mr. Blake was treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the quality of his treatment encouraged the Blake family to explore ways to memorialize his life and also support the research initiatives at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. hence, Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund was established in 2005 to support early detection cancer research. This area of focus was chosen because Mr. Blake had a form of cancer, which was extremely difficult to detect until the later stages. The hope is that enhanced early detection research will identify these difficult to discover forms of cancer sooner and effectively save more lives.
When James initially decided to put together a fundraiser in 2005, in memory of his father, it was intended to be a one time event. Due to the great success and overwhelming support from his friends and family, Serving For A Cure, now in it’s sixth year, is still growing. James is truly humbled by the support of his friends and family.
Advisory Board
Carlos Fleming,Vice President Tennis and Talent Management, IMG
Jesse Gilmer, Senior Director, IMG
Shyda Gilmer, Sherry Lehman
Nushin Kormi, Co-Founder, Baked Better
Greg Badowski, Director, MAI Wealth Management
Thomas Blake
We would like to thank all of you who have helped us in our goal to increase and improve early detection in the fight against cancer. Although we may not be able to eliminate cancer completely, we will continue to put forth our best effort into making a difference.
About James Blake
James turned pro in 1999 while he was the #1 collegiate player at Harvard University. He has led the Davis Cup team since joining in 2001, with a record of 20-9. In 2004, James overcame a near-death incident and a case of the shingles, leaving him partially paralyzed with blurred vision. Just one year later, he climbed from #210 to one of the top ten players in the world. In November 2006, he obtained his highest ranking of #4, and continues to be ranked in the top of the professional rankings.
Career Accomplishments
- Total titles (10 Singles, 5 Doubles)
- Member of the 2007 Gold Medal US Davis Cup team
- Ranked #4 in the world, making him the highest-ranked American tennis player in 2006
- Named 2005 ATP Comeback Player of the Year
Charitable Recognitions
James is extremely committed to helping find a cure for cancer and the education of children:
- Created the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Cancer Research Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- An active volunteer at the Harlem Junior Tennis Program — the very place he learned to play tennis
- Founded and organizes Serving for a Cure, an annual celebrity tennis and entertainment event to raise funds for cancer research and prevention
Media & Publicity
James’ personality, desire to win, and his comeback story appeal to all types of audiences:
- Author of the New York Times Best Seller, Breaking Back, a personal memoir
- Began his modeling career in 2003, appearing in GQ & Vogue
- Featured in People Magazine’s 2002, 2006 and 2007 ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ issue
- Voted to ATP Player Council in June 2006; served as Vice President until 2008
Established in 1884, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), is the world's oldest and largest private institution dedicated to prevention, patient care, research, and education in cancer. From its earliest days, MSK has devoted unparalleled energy and resources to the effort to control cancer in all its forms.
MSK advances cancer care through early detection, accurate diagnosis, and optimal treat- ment. MSk has 434 beds and each year admits over 23,000 patients and has over 500,000 outpatient visits. MSK also treats more children and young adults with cancer than any other center. MSK strives for clinical innovation and the use of more effective, less toxic therapies—and MSK clinicians aim to deliver these in a caring environment that addresses the complex needs of the patients as well as their loved ones.
MSK's mission to prevent and cure human cancers is critically dependent on advances in basic and clinical research. The state-of-the-art cancer care offered at MSK today is built largely on yesterday's scientific achievements—the next generation of breakthroughs will depend on how well and how quickly insights are translated from the lab bench to the clinic. emerging knowledge of the human genome and the growth of technology to exploit its contents will dramatically speed this translation process. As the nation's leading cancer center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering is unfaltering in its commitment to scientific discovery, and strengthening of the ties between its scientific and clinical communities.
Learn More »