Before he passed away in 1993 from metastatic adenocarcinoma, college basketball coach Jim Valvano – more affectionately known as “Jimmy V” – was an inspiration in his attitude towards life. Offering timeless advice when accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the first ESPYS just months before he died, Valvano told any listener facing an obstacle: “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”

Over the past year especially, we have been awed by many athletes who embody Jimmy V’s legacy. There’s been much written about her previously, but it is particularly appropriate in this context to remember Lauren Hill, who tragically passed away from DIPG, a rare form of brain cancer, in April. Lauren could have accepted without a fight the degeneration of her physical abilities from the cancer; instead, she chose to continue playing basketball, which she loved, and fulfill her dream of playing college hoops.

In her perseverance, Lauren also recognized that a fighting spirit would allow her to use sport as a vehicle for change. “I’m so happy that people know about [DIPG] now and that we can get some research going and hopefully find that home run cure for cancer,” said Lauren. “Even though I’m probably not going to be around to see it, it’s going to help a lot of people.”

With such a perfect embodiment of Jimmy V’s famous message, the 2015 ESPYS will showcase Lauren Hill’s complement to Valvano’s legacy with a special presentation honoring her work. Of course, Lauren’s journey is not the only which shows us Jimmy V’s message still resounds today. Hitting close to home for ESPN, long-time SportsCenter host Stuart Scott sadly passed away this past January, also from cancer. During his own acceptance speech upon receiving the 2014 Arthur Ashe Courage Award – the same award Jim Valvano received 21 years prior – Scott emphasized his own responsibility and commitment to never give up.

More importantly, Scott clarified the nature of struggle, perseverance, and, when it occurs, death. “When you die, it doesn’t mean that you ‘lose’ to cancer,” Scott said. “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live. So live. Fight like hell.”

Lauren Hill fought, as did Stuart Scott. So many in the sports world fought, too – people like Robin Roberts, who also fought cancer, and others like Austin Hatch, who survived two plane crashes and lost most of his family, but persevered through tremendous injury, both physical and emotional, to achieve his goal of playing basketball for the University of Michigan.

Jimmy V’s message is alive and well. And, each time his call to action is followed, the sports world inflates just a bit more with inspiration. Most daily struggles, especially those in athletics, will not compare with Valvano’s, or Lauren Hill’s, or Stuart Scott’s battles. Big or small, Jimmy V’s perspective is still relevant. Success is achieved not from lack of failure, nor even necessarily from winning itself, but from perseverance towards a goal and support for one another.