Cheers to the NFL: It is all about pink and breast cancer

I was watching football yesterday and noticed a lot of pink on the field.  Pink.  Pink mouthguards, wristbands, cleats, shoes and footballs, stickers on helmets.  I had just written the blog about October being all about the breasts and breast cancer awareness, and thought, “Oh my! Is the NFL all about breast cancer awareness this month?” 

My husband said, “Yes, they do this every year.”  How smart.  With so many women affected, it affects men too.  Mothers, wives, sisters, daughters.  So I looked into it, and I think they deserve a blog, from a female plastic surgeon who has just become a bigger football fan for bringing attention to the cause.  My favorite title so far: “A Crucial Catch: Real Men Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” 

• Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals (a wide receiver) is donating $1000 for every catch and $5000 for every touchdown to breast cancer programs.  He lost his mother to breast cancer.
• In the Meadowlands Stadium, 125 breast cancer survivors took the field pregame and made a ribbon.  Pink Giants hats and footballs were sold, giving proceeds to the charities which support breast cancer.
• Tennessee Titans fullback Ahmard Hall’s mother is a breast cancer survivor. Hall wore pink gloves and cleats.
• Tanya Snyder, wife of Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and Susie Spanos, wife of San Diego Chargers president Dan Spanos, are national spokespeople for “A Crucial Catch.” 
• The campaign, “A Crucial Catch:  Annual Screening Saves Lives,” aims to bring awareness to women 40 and older about the importance of having an annual mammogram

This list goes on and on.

BRAVO NFL.