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James Blake has Raised over $1 Million to Support Cancer Research

On December 5, 2013 the James Blake Foundation hosted, Serving For A Cure, a charity tennis exhibition that raised money and awareness for cancer research. 

 Photos from the event and an exclusive interview with James Blake are posted below:

 James Blake and his family established the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2005 to support early detection cancer research.  Thomas Blake Sr., James' father, passed away in 2004 after battling gastric cancer. 
 
James spoke exclusively to GlamSpinTennis and was excited to report that his foundation has surpassed $1 Million in donations to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

 After a year off, Serving For A Cure, returned to NYC where James Blake was joined on the tennis court by former ATP World No. 1 Andy Roddick, current No. 14 John Isner, and actor Boris Kodjoe. Brooklyn Decker, Andy's wife, and former ATP pros Justin Gimelstob and Mario Ancic were also in attendance. 

The glam evening featured a series of entertaining tennis matches and a live auction which benefited the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

 Boris Kodjoe proved to be an adept tennis player, partnering with James Blake to prevail 7-5 in a one-set match versus Andy Roddick and John Isner. 

 Andy Roddick went on to get his revenge by beating both James Blake and John Isner in one-set singles matches. 

 James told GlamSpinTennis that he hopes to make Serving for a Cure, the James Blake Foundation's flagship, annual event.  The Foundation also hosted a poker fundraiser earlier in 2013 and sponsored runners at the New York City Marathon which raised additional funds. 

 James may even run the marathon, "next year, there is talk and threats from all my friends that they might make me run it," he said, "I might be out there a long time... but, we'll see."

 James also spoke to GlamSpinTennis about retired life:

 "Retirement is great; a lot of fun. I've been a lot busier than I thought I was going to be because I've been working on this event and chasing my daughter around. [Also] just figuring out what I want to do with the next part of my life. I've been so single-minded and so focused on tennis for the last 20 years of my life that to get away from it a little bit and find what else really inspires me is a great thing. Right now the number one thing is my family."

 You can donate to the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, here.

 Here are some pictures from the event; photo credit  aguyandagirlphotography.com:  





Thank you to Jody and DeDe.



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