FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 1999

For additional information, contact:
Brian McCarthy, NFL, (212) 450-2069
Kristin Kelly, Komen, (972) 855-1607

NFL players always pay tribute to their biggest fans – their moms. This Mother’s Day weekend (May 8-9), several players are spending the holiday with their own mothers and thousands of others to increase breast cancer awareness and to raise money for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.

On Saturday, May 8, Pro Bowler JAMAL ANDERSON, rookie standout TEBUCKY JONES of the New England Patriots and former San Francisco 49er GARY PLUMMER will participate in THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION RACE FOR THE CURE® SERIES. In addition, JEROME BETTIS of the Pittsburgh Steelers appears in a public service announcement with KAYE COWHER, wife of Steelers Head Coach BILL COWHER, encouraging involvement in the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure®, which is slated for May 9.

Anderson will join his mother and an estimated 8,000 runners and walkers in the Komen Race for the Cure® in Salt Lake City, where he played football at the University of Utah. Jones will participate with his mother and wife in his hometown of New Britain, Conn., with 8,000 racers expected. Plummer, meanwhile, will attend the Sacramento, Calif., Race event, where 4,000 runners and walkers are expected to participate. These are just three of 11 Komen Race for the Cure® events taking place Mother’s Day weekend.

"Players throughout the NFL have family members or friends who have been affected by breast cancer," Anderson said. "It's great to see the NFL and other players involved."

The Komen Race for the Cure® is the largest series of 5K (3.1-mile) fitness runs/walks in the world. The 1999 Komen Race for the Cure® Series will be held in record-breaking 98 cities across the country and will raise tens of millions of dollars for the Foundation and its Affiliates.

"Mother’s Day is a perfect time to celebrate the Komen Foundation’s partnership with the NFL," said Nancy Brinker, founding chair of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. "Every NFL player has a mother or another special woman in his life that is at risk for breast cancer. As a breast cancer survivor and a mother, I can’t think of a better Mother’s Day gift than walking with my son to help spread the life-saving message of early detection and to raise money that will eventually enable us to win the race against breast cancer."

The Mother's Day events are part of the NFL's national sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure® Series. The NFL will enhance marketing and grassroots support of the Race Series, including appearances by players and their families in NFL sites to promote the races. The NFL is also donating valuable television airtime for Komen Race for the Cure® PSAs.

Earlier this year, 25 members of the Detroit Lions organization participated in the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®, including ALICE ROSS, wife of Lions Head Coach BOBBY ROSS. Tampa Bay's WARRICK DUNN took part in the Tampa/St. Petersburg Race, while DANNY WUERFFEL of the New Orleans Saints attended the Daytona Beach, Fla., Race. HARDY NICKERSON of the Bucs kicked off the NFL's involvement at the West Palm Beach, Fla., Race the day before Super Bowl XXXIII.

A minimum of 25 percent of Komen Race for the Cure® proceeds support the Foundation's National Grant Program, which, for the last 17 years, has provided much-needed funding for groundbreaking breast cancer research and for innovative projects in the areas of breast health education and screening and treatment. The remainder of the funds raised stays in local communities, funding non-duplicative breast health and breast cancer outreach programs for the medically under-served in those communities.

Credited as the nation's leading catalyst in the fight against breast cancer, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its powerful network of volunteers continue to lead the fight against the disease. Established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at age 36, the Komen Foundation's mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment. For more information about breast health and breast cancer, call the Foundation's National Toll-Free Helpline (1.800.I'MAWARE) or visit the Foundation's award-winning Website (www.breastcancerinfo.com).

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