Steelers participate in NFL’s Crucial Catch campaign

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on October 6, 2016

It’s October, and that means we’re about to see pink: a lot of pink.

The color pink is associated with Breast Cancer Awareness, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. To help promote awareness, NFL teams will adorn their stadiums and equipment with pink accents, as a way to create awareness. Stadiums will be outfitted with pink pads over goal posts, players will wear pink gloves and/or shoes, and even the referees get in on the action, wearing pink wristbands. (They had once used pink flags as well!)

The NFL released an official statement today promoting their “Crucial Catch” campaign:

For the eighth year, the National Football League, the American Cancer Society and the NFL Players Association are teaming up to support October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with “A Crucial Catch:Screening Saves Lives” campaign, reminding women about the importance of having a regular mammogram.

Since 2009, nearly $15 million has been raised for the American Cancer Society through the partnership, with the majority of contributions coming from the sale of pink merchandise at retail and the NFL Auction website. One-hundred percent of proceeds from pink products auctioned on NFL Auction go directly to the American Cancer Society.The NFL does not profit from the sale or auction of pink merchandise.

The NFL will also debut two new Public Service Announcements during Sunday’s games. One of the PSA’s will feature Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams. Williams mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, and battled the disease for ten years, until her passing in May 2014. Williams is a long advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness, and regularly works with The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the largest breast cancer organization in the country.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will also dedicate time for in-game BCA events during the October 9th home game against the New York Jets:

During the Steelers BCA game on Oct. 9, over 20 breast cancer survivors will be honored pre-game. Survivors will be down on the field for warm-ups and the National Anthem. They will be wearing Steelers BCA t-shirts and will have pink Terrible Towels. The survivors will be a part of the Terrible Towel Twirl. There will be a check presentation from UPMC and Ford to Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh. Additionally, Steelers players will cook for a group of breast cancer survivors at Magee Women’s Hospital.

In the past, it was also customary for fans attending this game to receive pink Terrible Towels as they enter Heinz Field (no announcement has been made by the Steelers as of yet, if this tradition will continue on Sunday).

While the inclusion of pink or camo accents to field and player equipment may seem trendy, and help spice up football games just like throwback or “color rush” jerseys, I encourage every person to get involved with creating awareness, and helping the NFL promote this worthy cause. I, myself, have witnessed my mother defeat breast cancer by early detection methods and regular screenings. Though another form of cancer, my father too is a survivor of lung cancer, also by early detection methods. By simply adorning a pink ribbon, purchasing NFL merchandise where proceeds are donated, or visiting donation links as listed below, your contribution to helping create awareness, no matter how small it may seem, helps in the grand scheme of creating a greater awareness.