One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Think about that for a minute. One in eight.
Sure, you can rattle off the names of seven women you think will be just fine, but then, boom, that eighth name. That could be the one.
It's startling. It's scary.
And it's something the Steelers are doing their part to help battle.
For the 16th year the Steelers are supporting A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based foundation that is focused on not just finding a cure, but helping young women who are battling what can be a deadly disease.
On Monday night, Arthur and Shonda Moats and Alan and Julie Faneca hosted Bid For Hope, an event that helps raise funds to aid researchers and help those going through treatment. Over $1 million has been raised thanks to the collaboration with the Steelers through the years, and it just continues to grow.
"The help from the Steelers has elevated us to a whole new level in Western Pennsylvania because the programs we are able to support are nowhere else in the country," said Diana Napper, founder and president of Glimmer of Hope. "We are now replicating those programs to go across the country. The fact that the Steelers have helped us since the first Bid for Hope, they are such a huge part of the success we have been able to have."
For Moats, who was joined at the event by many of his teammates, getting involved was easy. He has seen the impact breast cancer can have on people just by looking inside the Steelers' locker room the past few years, where former teammate DeAngelo Williams brought the battle to the forefront after losing his mother to the disease.
"This benefits breast cancer research, and anyone who has a mother, sister, nieces, any female family member, understands how big an issue it is," said Moats. "It's something they can relate to. Even if you don't know someone directly, if you talk to someone they will know somebody who has been affected by it.
"DeAngelo, he was my teammate for two years, and he had extreme family be affected by it. Just understanding that, the need for research, drew me to it. And having Shonda involved too, anytime we can support each other in something like this, especially something that deals with battling a disease so many women are impacted by, I am happy to do it with her."
The players mingled with guests, and signed autographs, before helping with a live auction.
"When you hear the players, they talk about moms, sisters, aunts, and they understand how important these women are," said Napper. "For them to embrace this cause and fight for breast cancer research is remarkable. For these tough football players who play a rough sport, you see a different side of them when they see a breast cancer survivor walk into the event. It's emotional, but it really touches your heart.
"And to have Arthur lead the way for his teammates, his genuine positive attitude is off the charts. It's remarkable. He is uplifting to me. He and his wife are genuinely behind the cause. It's heartwarming to have him on board.
"We keep working to find a cure. We are looking at metastatic breast cancer research. We're looking at so many different treatment options that weren't there 10 years ago. Every penny we raise will go to Magee to protect young women with breast cancer."
