Jay Harris: “Without the Research, I’m Not Here.”
How V Foundation Ambassador, ESPN’s Jay Harris is Inspired by his Own Personal Cancer Journey and Friendship With Stuart Scott to Advocate for Cancer Research
Jay Harris is no stranger to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. From a 20+ year career at ESPN, to his personal friendship with the late, legendary Stuart Scott, to hosting the V Foundation’s 30th Anniversary Gala in June 2023, he is deeply ingrained in the organization. The mission of the V Foundation, advancing cancer research, along with honoring Stuart’s legacy have always been important to Jay, but now, it’s even more personal.
A Personal Journey with Prostate Cancer
In June 2025, Jay announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. While the news was sobering, it was not fully unexpected. Jay was continually aware of his risk for prostate cancer as a 60-year-old Black man with a family history of the disease – his father was a prostate cancer thriver.
Unfortunately, cancer disparities based on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds continue to be one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States. For example, prostate cancer mortality in Black men is approximately 2-4x higher than men in other racial and ethnic groups. Jay was aware of these statistics and discussed his risk with his doctor in his annual appointments.
Shortly after his diagnosis, Jay underwent surgery to remove his prostate and the localized cancer. Today, Jay is doing well and using his voice to advocate for the advancement of cancer research.
“I don’t thrive if cures in research aren’t found,” Jay said. “I cannot identify which part of my treatment was a direct result of what particular research, but I know it’s there. Without the research, I’m not here. Without the people who give, I’m not here. Without the people who put in the many, many, many, many, many hours to try and help people…”
“It’s not like you set out to save the world. You set out to help one person at a time, that’s why I’m here.”
Continuing a Legacy, Honoring a Friend
Through their parallel careers at ESPN, Jay was friends with Stuart Scott. He witnessed his passion for journalism, breaking barriers and being his authentic self. He saw his sincerity and love for others. And he observed Stuart’s “Fight Like Hell” attitude throughout his lengthy battle with cancer.
Jay has many favorite memories of Stuart – from hosting a show together on ESPN to seeing Stuart roughhouse and play WWE with Jay’s 9-year-old son and his friends at a cookout.
“It was just ridiculous. You walk downstairs and he is a grown man, elbow dropping kids, and it’s the funniest thing – they are all just so in the moment and loving it. And loving him.”
“It’s not the dude with the celebrity, it’s not the dude with the position and the acclaim and all that stuff, and with the makeup and the nice suits … It’s the dude that is just down there wrestling and they could care less about that other stuff. That’s the part of Stuart that I got to see and that I miss.”
“I was going through some pictures the other day and I saw something that my son posted when Stuart died and he’s like, ‘My guy is gone. He was like a mentor to me in some respects, a second dad because he was there for me and he talked to me and we played together and he was such an integral part of my life.’”
In 2015, shortly after Stuart’s passing, the V Foundation and founding partner ESPN established the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund (SSMCRF). Throughout his cancer journey, Stuart was a champion for cancer research and especially driven to improve outcomes for minorities disproportionately affected by the disease. Grants funded through the SSMCRF are directed to research focused on racial disparities in cancer outcomes and general cancer research led by scientists from underrepresented groups.
With ESPN’s help, the V Foundation has awarded $22.1 million across 64 grants from the fund since 2015.
“Stuart, he’s my guy,” Jay said. “If I can be involved in a way that helps people overcome what unfortunately took him away from us, I’m involved. That’s why I’m here – it keeps him alive in a lot of ways, and I like that.”
Celebrating Game-Changing Cancer Research
Recently, Jay interviewed V Foundation grantee W. Nathaniel Brennen, Ph.D., researcher at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and Associate Professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Brennen’s research focuses on discovering new treatment options for advanced prostate cancer patients. Traditionally, doctors have relied on hormone therapies to treat prostate cancer, but the cancer can become resistant to treatment. Dr. Brennen and his team are leading the charge to introduce new options to avoid therapeutic resistance.
Check out Jay’s interview with Dr. Brennen below:
Jay continues to honor Stuart’s legacy through involvement with the V Foundation. In December 2025, Jay hosted Conversations for a Cure at the 5th annual Boo-Yah event in New York City, where more than $3 million was raised to fund cancer research through the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund. Jay now serves as a V Foundation ambassador, continuing to champion funding trailblazing research to save lives.
