Part of the X Trials will be devoted to raising money for The V Foundation, a charity started in 1993 by ESPN and the late coach and commentator Jim Valvano.

"This event will offer fans of ESPN, in its home area, the opportunity to connect with the company and its commentators, all while raising money to fight cancer," Nick Valvano, chief executive officer of the V Foundation and Valvano's brother said in a prepared statement. "We at the V Foundation are so grateful for our unique relationship with ESPN and the generous spirit behind their efforts."

Mike Soltys, a spokesman for ESPN, said while the X Trials are free to everyone, there will be some sideline activities -- and a celebrity auction -- that will carry a nominal charge, with proceeds going to the V Foundation.

ESPN is betting visitors to the X Trials might be willing to shell out a few dollars to go inside ESPN the Truck, get a picture with an on-air personality or buy some ESPN merchandise, knowing that the money will go to fight cancer.

There will be a specially designed pin that shows the X Trials and the V Foundation, Soltys said, to sell for about $5.

He said there will be ESPN merchandise raffled off, as well as special ESPN tours and autographed items.

"There are a lot of things that do very well in charity auctions," Soltys said.

Soltys said ESPN hasn't tried this kind of fund-raiser before and hasn't set a specific goal for how much money to raise.

"Any amount of money that we generate will be a real plus," Soltys said.

In a statement released Thursday, ESPN President George Bodenheimer said he is proud of ESPN's role in launching the V Foundation and the employees' efforts to raise awareness and money for cancer research.

"Every family is touched by cancer through relatives or friends," Bodenheimer said, "and we keep focusing on Jim's mission to find a cure."

Soltys said Valvano, who died of cancer, delivered "a memorable and impassioned speech about finding a cure for cancer" at ESPN's first ESPY awards ceremony.

"We still get pretty frequent requests for that speech," Soltys said.

Though the V Foundation is now separate and not a part of ESPN, the company continues to raise money for the cause. Soltys said ESPN sponsors fund-raising basketball games, golf tournaments and other events to help.

To date, the V Foundation has raised $18 million in the fight against cancer, according to Soltys.

ESPN commentators participating in the fund-raiser include "SportsCenter" and ESPNEWS' Cara Capuano, Kevin Corke, Rece Davis, Rich Eisen, Kenny Mayne, Scott Reiss, Bob Stevens, J.W. Stewart and Trey Wingo. ESPN Radio's Joe D'Ambrosio, Mike Golic and Bob Valvano will also participate.

ESPN Radio, heard locally on 1410-AM, will broadcast live early Saturday afternoon from the fund-raiser with host Bob Valvano, Jim's brother, according to ESPN.

The X Trials, a qualifying event for the X Games later this summer, will be Friday, June 15 through Sunday, June 17. Fund-raising events will be held Saturday and Sunday. Soltys said the exact location in the park hadn't been determined by Thursday.