On October 25, the American Cancer Society and the NFL, along with grant-funded community health system partners, are teaming up to launch its first nationwide, breast cancer event – A Crucial Catch Day – to provide breast cancer education and free or low-cost screenings within specific underserved communities.

NFL A Crucial Catch Day is focused on the importance of annual screenings, especially for women who are 40 and older. If you’re a football fan, you have probably noticed this month’s NFL games featuring players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel, as well as additional on-field and in-stadium branding. All of the efforts were done to help raise awareness for this crucial campaign.

One awesome example is the recent pregame ceremony at Gillette Stadium, where the Kraft family and New England Patriots honored more than 160 breast cancer survivors and their caregivers. The survivors and caregivers wore pink t-shirts and formed a breast cancer awareness ribbon at midfield during team introductions and the national anthem.

 

 

Much of the apparel worn at games by players and coaches, along with special game balls and pink coins is currently being auctioned off at the NFL Auction website, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society’s Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program.

Over the past three years, American Cancer Society CHANGE Grants, have educated 72,000 women on the benefits and importance of breast cancer screening with more than 10,000 free or low-cost screenings performed. This lifesaving work continues in 2014 and was expanded into all 32 NFL team markets reaching more of the women who need us most. Since the launch of the grant program in 2012, the number of recipients has consistently risen.

The NFL, its clubs, players, the NFL Players Association and the American Cancer Society are committed to saving lives from breast cancer, and addressing the unequal burden of cancer in underserved communities. The NFL A Crucial Catch Day is a shining example of that.

NFL A Crucial Catch Day

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Learn more about the NFL A Crucial Catch Day at their dedicated website. While there, you can also sign up for a personal screening reminder, make a donation, and take the pledge to get screened and encourage others to do the same.

NFL A Crucial Catch Day Supports Breast Cancer Education