DeAngelo Williams is the 32-year-old veteran runningback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last year his mother, Sandra Hill, died of breast cancer. DeAngelo Williams has wanted to use the Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October to do something special. He had originally planned a series of pink-colored uniform items he would wear throughout the year, but the NFL nixed that idea,
citing their uniform policy. The NFL's uniform policy has specific clauses for colors and items—shoes must have dominant base color (balck or white), dominant team color, etc. You can read about the almost maniacal uniform requirements
here. Unfortunately, the NFL explained that there are
no exceptions to the rule.
He wanted to wear pink shoes or pink wristbands throughout the year, not just during the traditional breast cancer awareness month of October, to honor his mother and those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer.
Instead, Williams will dye the tips of his long hair pink. He's also buying 53 women mammograms. He spoke to Lisa Salters during the Monday Night Football broadcast.
Williams said he is purchasing 53 mammograms tests -- in honor of his mother's age when she died -- for a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he played nine NFL seasons for the Carolina Panthers, and in Pittsburgh.
[...]
Williams told Salters:"It's not just about October for me; it's not just a month, it's a lifestyle. It's about getting women to recognize to get tested."
According to
Sports Illustrated:
The median cost of a mammogram is $243, so this is an estimated value of $12,879, but it’s priceless in terms of early breast cancer detection.
Good on you, sir.