Join James Blake To Serve For a Cure

New York, November 9, 2011 – American tennis star James Blake will once again host Serving For A Cure, presented by Empire BlueCross BlueShield and The James Blake Foundation, on Monday, November 28, 2011, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, to raise money for the Thomas Blake, Sr., Memorial Research Fund, which Blake established to support cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

The event, to be emceed by Justin Long (Dodgeball, Live Free or Die Hard) and feature a musical performance by Rolling Stone “Artist to Watch,” Brett Dennen, will feature a cocktail hour with athletes and celebrities, a fast serve contest, and a ping-pong challenge where guests will have the opportunity to take on James and multiple Grand Slam champion Jim Courier in a game of table tennis.

All of the net proceeds from the event will benefit the Fund, named in memory of James’ father, Thomas Blake, Sr., who died of gastric cancer in 2004. To date, Blake has raised more than $2 million through his exhibitions, fundraisers, J-Block merchandise sales, and donations to support research into the early detection and screening of cancer. A portion of those proceeds have benefited MSKCC.

“I am grateful to be able to once again host a fundraiser to help support a cause that is close to my heart,” said Blake. “This will mark the seventh year of what has been an incredibly fun and successful event, and I want to invite everyone to come out for a memorable evening that will benefit such an important cause.”

Past events have featured numerous celebrities and athletes such as Hall of Famer Andre Agassi, superstars Serena Williams and Andy Roddick, and world-renowned musical artists John Mayer, Gavin DeGraw and Wyclef Jean.

"We are very pleased to support the James Blake Foundation and the Thomas Blake, Sr., Memorial Research Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,” said Mark Wagar, president and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield. "The  money raised at this event provides crucial investment funding for cancer research -- research necessary to break new ground toward new and more effective treatments, medical discoveries and improved patient outcomes.”

For more information and to order tickets to Serving For A Cure, presented by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, visit www.jamesblakefoundation.com or call 305-461-9296.