I have often mentioned that as the author of this biweekly column, the subject matter would not always pertain to the world of sports. However, at various stages there may be some direct correlation between the two as you will see in the following paragraphs.
When October rolls around each year, we traditionally set our focus on the last day of the month — Halloween and its related preparations and celebrations. Now, there’s a new norm sweeping the country that actually isn’t really new at all. I’m speaking of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A time to “Think Pink,” as the slogan goes.
As mentioned, it certainly isn’t new, as it has blossomed into its current worldwide setting. People of all ages, from all walks of life, have joined in this noble cause and promotion of awareness on a year-round basis. This dreaded disease has no age or gender boundaries and strikes without much warning.
I cannot fathom sitting in a doctor’s office and having him or her utter the words to me, “You have cancer.” Unfortunately I do have firsthand knowledge of a physician sitting across from my father and me at a hospital surgical suite uttering those words about his wife, my mom.
Being told that your mother has breast cancer was total devastation, as one can only imagine. Looking at my dad’s face, riddled with disbelief and confusion, was more than my brain could process at that particular moment. Next was the unavoidable and inevitable task of breaking the news about the diagnosis to the woman who was the matriarch of our close-knit Italian family.
Taking it seemingly all in stride, she informed us as well as her doctor that she was choosing to have no treatment, no medication and was perfectly content on finishing out her time on God’s green earth. That’s the way she always lived her life: so caring, so giving, so unselfish and certainly with zero fanfare.
Did we agree with this decision that rocked our world worse than the initial diagnosis? HELL NO, we didn’t! However, this was clearly her body, her choice and that ultimate decision was made by mom and that was it. Over the years I have often silently wondered, did she know before we knew? Did she have some type of sign?
Mom was a devout Catholic in the truest sense of the word. She loved her God, church, family and the University of Notre Dame, even though she never set foot on the campus and was not of Irish descent. She made my father put a small black & white TV in her kitchen so she could watch — as she called them — “Her little Irish Boys” play football on Saturday afternoons while she baked.
This lady loved Saint Patrick’s Day, the only thing I ever knew her to hate was the snow. Ironically my mom was called home by her God on March 17, 1996 — fittingly on Saint Patrick’s Day. The day she was transported to her final resting place, as fate would dictate, it snowed. When I looked at my dad at the cemetery he mumbled, “How mad do you think your mother is right now?”
It’s easy to see why this month, even after all these years, is difficult for me but makes me a stronger advocate for this cause and all of its promotions and events. To say that the month and related activities are very near and dear to my heart is an understatement.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month started in October 1985 as a weeklong event co-founded by the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical company Imperial Chemical Industries, which later became part of AstraZeneca. That being said, it made perfect sense to stick with October as the official month for the cause. The goal was simple: educate women and in some cases men about breast cancer and the importance of early detection through mammograms.
Former first lady Betty Ford, a breast cancer survivor, helped kick off the first event. What began as a weeklong event that first October expanded to become a monthlong observance. Ford would become an integral part of the ensuing fundraising efforts that continue to this day.
In 1991 the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons at its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. The pink ribbon has evolved from a humble peach ribbon handmade by Charlotte Haley to a powerful symbol of breast cancer awareness and support.
Expounding on that in 1992, Evelyn Lauder, senior corporate vice president of the Estee Lauder Cos., co-founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as a widespread symbol for breast cancer awareness. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation became official in 1993.
The ever-growing monthlong observance has expanded to include funding for research, promoting numerous events and supporting survivors. During the month of October, breast cancer survivors and those with breast cancer are celebrated and encouraged to share their stories.
One of the largest supporters of breast cancer awareness month is the National Football League. Each October nearly all players, coaches and referees don the pink ribbon and other variations of something pink — jerseys, hats, socks, cleats and whistles — to show their support. It doesn’t stop with the players, as team office personnel along with their families, friends and fans don the pink as a show of force and support.
A rumor surfaced that the NFL stopped Breast Cancer Awareness month. That, however, is far from the truth as it has expanded its cancer awareness efforts. Each team selects a certain game during October and tags it as “The Crucial Catch,” a campaign to include all cancers including breast cancer. Now the league has multicolored ribbons and merchandise to complement the color pink, recognizing and supporting everyone and their battles with a specific cancer type.
The goal of the “Crucial Catch” campaign is to encourage early detection and research for all forms of cancer, not just one specific disease.
Forging ahead with the NFL’s support mission, players now have the opportunity to show greater support for someone or some organization who has directly affected their lives by donning cleats they designed and have hand-painted by a professional artist. This effort is known leaguewide as the “My Cause My Cleats” event.
This most notable cause has filtered down from the professional ranks through colleges, universities, high schools and the pee wee ranks of all sports — not just football. All sports at any level will offer their support during their specific seasons be it the nationally recognized month of October or not and continue to aid in fundraising efforts. Those sporting events are often called “Pink Outs” as fans are encouraged to show their support by wearing the color pink in some form or fashion.
Please, please, please attempt to do your part in whatever capacity you deem fit in spreading awareness for not only breast cancer but all types of this horrible disease. The cost is minimal and, trust me, the rewards are well worth it.
Believe me, that request is so minute in stature simply because we never know if or when we will hear the word cancer coming from a doctor’s mouth.
Photos by Mike Longo Jr.
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