FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (October 15, 2010) - As part of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's season-long "Kick Cancer" initiative, and in partnership with Re/Max of New England, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, American Airlines and the NFL, the Patriots will promote breast cancer awareness at the October 17 game at Gillette Stadium versus the Baltimore Ravens.??
"Throughout the season we are raising awareness among Patriots fans about the importance of cancer screening and early detection," said Patriots Chairman & CEO Robert Kraft. "For this game, we are delighted to integrate the 'Kick Cancer' initiative with the great work the league as a whole has done during the month of October to raise awareness for breast cancer. As an organization, one of our primary goals is to draw additional attention to women's cancers, for which detection is typically difficult and regular screening is important."??
The team will host and recognize 14 breast cancer survivors at the game, including Harvard University President Drew Faust and Janice Guyton, the mother of Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton. Gary will appear in a public service announcement promoting breast cancer screening that will air on Gillette Stadium's video screens during the game. He joins Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski and punter Zoltan Mesko as players who have filmed public service announcements asking Patriots fans to help "Kick Cancer." ??
Guyton will also be one of many Patriots players who will wear pink apparel during the game as part of the NFL's league-wide breast cancer awareness initiative. In addition, coaches will wear pink apparel, the game ball will feature pink ribbon decals, the field goal posts will be wrapped with pink padding and a pink coin will be used for the pregame coin toss. President Faust will join Patriots team captains at mid-field during the coin toss as an honorary captain. ??
In the last NFL breast cancer awareness game in which they competed (at Miami, 10/4), more than half of the Patriots players wore pink cleats, 30 players wore pink gloves and nearly every player had either a pink sticker on their helmets or wore a pink wrist or elbow band to show their support for the ongoing fight against breast cancer. Among the coaches donning pink apparel was Head Coach Bill Belichick, who wore pink Reebok Zig Techs during the game.??
Fans attending Sunday's game can donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure at 10 locations throughout the stadium. Re/Max of New England will provide fans with a pink towel for a $5 donation, a pink wristband for a $3 donation and a keychain for a $2 donation. Fans can also text message KomenMA to 50555 from their mobile phone to donate $10. The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will match up to $10,000 in donations made at the game.??
American Airlines, official airline of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, will allow fans to donate airline miles to support breast cancer causes by visiting their tent outside of Gillette Stadium's Bank of America Gate.??
The Patriots' "Kick Cancer" initiative will continue throughout the season as the Patriots aim to raise awareness about cancer through messages to fans and the distribution of educational material at home games in partnership with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital - the founding hospitals of Partners HealthCare - and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.??
For more information about the Kick Cancer initiative, including resources and information about cancer prevention and screening, visit www.patriots.com/community.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION KICK CANCER GAME SCHEDULE
September 26 - Buffalo Bills - Kick Cancer Kickoff and Women's Cancers Awareness
October 17 - Baltimore Ravens - Breast Cancer Awareness
October 31 - Minnesota Vikings - Lung Cancer and Stop Smoking Awareness
November 21 - Indianapolis Colts - Childhood Cancer Awareness
December 6 - New York Jets - Colon Cancer Awareness
December 19 - Green Bay Packers - Prostate Cancer Awareness
January 2 - Miami Dolphins - Kick Cancer Wrap Up with Survivors and Caregivers
