Sports & Celebrity Newswire

Posts Tagged ‘NFL Breast Cancer’

The NFL is doing its part to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer by supporting October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The league has placed pink on players’ shoes, gloves, arm bands and hats. There’s a pink ribbon on the field, pink towels on the bench and ribbons on the shirts of the referees. Coaches and game staff personnel will wear pink ribbon/NFL shield pins on the sidelines while the league and teams will run breast cancer awareness messages during the month with pregame and in-stadium initiatives.

NFL supports breast cancer awareness by turning pink

Although the NFL is a man’s game, many of its members have been touched by the disease, including…

• Brett Favre…Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings…Wife is a breast cancer survivor
• DeAngelo Williams…Running Back, Carolina Panthers…Mother is a breast cancer survivor
• Bradie James…Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys…Lost Mother to breast cancer
• Ronde Barber…Defensive Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers…Mother is a breast cancer survivor
• Ryan Denney…Defensive End, Buffalo Bills…Mother is a breast cancer survivor

Brett Favre & wife Deanna

Along with Favre’s wife Deanna, arguably the most publicized case of breast cancer to hit the NFL family occurred when Hall of Fame coach Don Shula lost his wife Dorothy to the disease in 1991.

Said Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter about wearing pink, “I’m more than comfortable with my manhood to wear pink shoes. I know we’re going to auction them off and send the money from the proceeds of that. So whatever I can do to help in that situation is good. And I think it’s a good cause.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women. The National Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that each year more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease and 40,000 will die from it. Because the disease touches so many people, cancer survivors are popular speakers at fundraisers, survivor conferences, medical meetings, etc.

A couple of the more popular cancer speakers and breast cancer survivors are….

• Dorothy Hamill…The 1976 Olympic gold medal figure skater was diagnosed in 2008
• Ann Jillian…A three-time Emmy nominated and Golden Globe winning actress and singer, Jillian was diagnosed in 1985
• Robin Roberts…The ABC “Good Morning America” co-host and former ESPN anchor was diagnosed in 2007
• Peggy Fleming…The 1968 Olympic gold medal figure skater was diagnosed in 1998
• Marcia Wallace…The longtime actress best known for her role on “The Bob Newhart Show” was diagnosed in 1985
• Linda Ellerbee…The award-winning journalist was diagnosed in 1992
• Olivia Newton-John…The four time Grammy-winning singer was diagnosed in 1992

Cancer effects everyone in one form or another. It’s great to see the NFL use its platform to raise awareness and hopefully save lives in the process.

If you would like to find out how to hire  a cancer speaker for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request cancer speaker booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for athletes and celebrities.