Anya Alvarez
©2016, The Shadow League
Turning on the television to watch NFL football over the last month, it was evident that breast cancer had taken root in the world of sports with the proliferation of pink.
Tanya Snyder spearheaded the NFL to bring awareness to breast cancer. Her husband, Daniel, bought the Washington Redskin in 1999. That same a year, sorority in northern Virginia approached the team to partake in a breast cancer fundraiser in October. Their enthusiasm sparked Snyder’s interest, and she joined the group, helping pass out 8,000 pink ribbons.
The following year, four teams participated. In 2008, the NFL the campaign and partnered with the American Cancer Society. That same year, Snyder was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I had done a self-exam… Fortunately, I caught it early, and I am grateful for that,” she told the NY Post.
After she had surgery to remove the cancer, Snyder and the NFL started the breast cancer screening campaign, “Crucial to Catch,” and she became their national spokesperson.
Breast cancer advocates now had the opportunity to reach millions. This partnership was particularly important because breast cancer was seen as a “women’s only” issue. Seeing 300-pound defensive linemen wearing pink took away that stigma.
For full story… TheShadowLeague.com
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This story originally appeared on TheShadowLeague.com, a site dedicated to journalistically sound sports coverage with a cultural perspective that insightfully informs sports fans worldwide.
