What Happened To Nfl Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
Contents
It’s October, which means it’s time for NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Month! But this year, something seems to be missing…
Introduction
In October of each year, the National Football League (NFL) dedicates one of its prime-time games to Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). For this game, players on both teams wear pink apparel, including shoes, gloves, and towels. The NFL also donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its pink products to various breast cancer charities. However, in recent years the NFL has been criticized for its handling of BCAM.
What is NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
In 2009, the National Football League (NFL) began a partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for research and early detection initiatives. The campaign, now in its tenth year, features players, coaches, and referees wearing pink game apparel, as well as on-field pink ribbon stencils, special game balls, and cleats. The NFL’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an extension of the league’s long-standing commitment to helping women live healthier lives.
In addition to promoting breast cancer awareness, the NFL’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month alsoraise funds for ACS to support breast cancer research and early detection initiatives. During the month of October, the NFL matches donations made by fans to ACS up to $250,000. The NFL has also committed $10 million dollars to ACS over a five-year period to support8 community-based breast cancer programs across the country that provide free or low-cost mammograms to women in need. To date, the NFL has raised over $15 million dollars for ACS through their Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign.
While the NFL’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a terrific way to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for research and early detection initiatives, some have criticized the campaign for not doing enough to support survivors of breast cancer or address the disparities in how breast cancer affects different racial and ethnic groups. Critics have also questioned whether the NFL is more interested in promoting its image than actually making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. Nonetheless, the NFL’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month remains one of the most visible campaigns dedicated to raising awareness about this disease.
What Happened To NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
This year, the NFL has come under fire for their lack of support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In years past, the NFL has been a strong supporter of the cause, with players wearing pink accessories on the field and promoting the cause in other ways. However, this year there has been a significant decrease in support from the NFL. Some fans and observers have speculated that this is due to the recent scandals surrounding the NFL, such as domestic violence and players using performance-enhancing drugs. Others believe that the NFL is simply trying to distance itself from a cause that has become increasingly controversial in recent years. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the NFL’s support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month has declined significantly this year.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that the NFL has had its share of scandals in recent years. From domestic violence to Deflategate, the league has been mired in controversy. So it’s no surprise that some have wondering what happened to NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The short answer is, the NFL is still supporting breast cancer awareness and research. In fact, the league has donated over $8 million to the American Cancer Society since 2009. However, due to the recent scandals, many players have decided to take a different approach to supporting the cause.
Some players, like San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid, have decided to wear pink cleats during October games to support breast cancer awareness. Others, like Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, have chosen to wear pink gloves. And some teams, like the Houston Texans, are even selling pink team merchandise with proceeds going to charity.
So while the NFL may not be as outwardly visible in its support of breast cancer awareness this year, it is still very much committed to the cause.