RENTON, Wash. – Today the Seattle Seahawks, in partnership with Virginia Mason, the Seahawks Official Health Care Partner, and CHI Franciscan, launch a month of cancer awareness activities to promote early detection through the NFL's Crucial Catch: Intercept Cancer initiative. To kick off the Crucial Catch campaign, representatives from the Seahawks, Virginia Mason and CHI Franciscan will participate in a ceremonial flag raising at CenturyLink Field on Friday, October 4. The Seahawks will host the team's annual Crucial Catch game on October 20 versus the Baltimore Ravens.
"One of the best defenses against cancer is a good offense, with a playbook consisting of regular health screenings," said Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Gary S. Kaplan, MD. "We are grateful for this opportunity to team up once again with the Seahawks and CHI Franciscan. We know that by working together, we are in a much better position to beat cancer by broadening the public's understanding about why screenings are key to winning against this disease."
"We know that detecting cancers in the early stages increases treatment options for patients and saves lives," said Ketul J. Patel, CEO of CHI Franciscan. "We are proud to again be partnering with the Seattle Seahawks and Virginia Mason to raise awareness and educate our communities about the importance of early detection and getting screened to intercept cancer."
As encouragement to schedule regular healthcare screenings, fans will see a variety of colors throughout the campaign that represent multiple cancers that can be detected early, including:
- Navy: Colon Cancer
- Pink: Breast Cancer
- Lavender: All Cancers
- Teal: Cervical Cancer
- Blue: Prostate Cancer
- Gold: Childhood Cancers
- White: Lung Cancer
The CenturyLink Field arch lights will also feature an array of these colors the week leading up to the game to represent the campaign.
Fans can support Crucial Catch activities throughout the month of October, including:
- Crucial Cash: During the month of October, the Seahawks will donate 12% of the proceeds from in-store Pro Shop purchases of Crucial Catch headwear to Crucial Cash. In partnership with Virginia Mason and CHI Franciscan, Crucial Cash funds will help local patients who cannot cover the incidental costs of cancer treatment. Additional donations will be taken at all Pro Shop locations throughout the month of October as well. Lastly, the Seahawks will be auctioning off game-worn items from players and coaches to benefit Crucial Cash. Visit Auctions.Seahawks.com and click the "Charity" tab to view the items.
- At the Game:
- CenturyLink Field concessions will donate $0.25 from every Dasani bottled water purchase to Crucial Cash.
- Fans can celebrate family and friends affected by cancer by personalizing an "I CELEBRATE" placard, which will be available at all four Seahawks Pro Shop locations as well as on October 20 pregame in Touchdown City.
Visit Seahawks.com/CrucialCatch to learn more about cancer screenings and early detection.
About Virginia Mason Health System
Virginia Mason, founded in 1920, is a nonprofit regional health care system based in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. In the Puget Sound region, the system includes 336-bed Virginia Mason Hospital; a primary and specialty care group practice of more than 500 physicians; regional medical centers in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kirkland, Issaquah and Lynnwood; Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the U.S. designed and built specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS; Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research; and Virginia Mason Institute, which trains health care professionals and others from around the world in the Virginia Mason Production System, an innovative management methodology for continually improving quality, safety and efficiency. Virginia Mason online: VirginiaMason.org
Virginia Mason Health System also includes Yakima-based Memorial Family of Services and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, a 226-bed facility serving the Yakima Valley in Central Washington since 1950. Memorial Family of Services comprises primary care practices and specialty care services, including high quality cardiac care, a continuum of cancer care, hospice care, and advanced services for children with special health care needs. Memorial online: YakimaMemorial.org
About CHI Franciscan
CHI Franciscan is a Catholic nonprofit health system based in Tacoma, Washington, with $2.45 billion in total revenue and a team of more than 12,000 physicians, providers, nurses, and staff that provide expert, compassionate medical care at 11 acute care hospitals and over 200 primary and specialty care clinics throughout the greater Puget Sound. This includes St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton and Silverdale; Highline Medical Center, Burien; Regional Hospital, Burien; CHI Franciscan Rehabilitation Hospital, Tacoma, and Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital, Tacoma. Started in 1891 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, today CHI Franciscan is one of the largest health systems in Washington state. The system is comprised of more than 1,200 hospital beds and over 4,000 credentialed providers offering cardiovascular care, cancer care, orthopedics and sports medicine, neurosciences, women's care and other health care services. CHI Franciscan's mission is to create healthier communities, including caring for the poor and underserved. In fiscal year 2018, the organization provided $196 million in community benefit—free, subsidized, and reduced cost health care and programs. Follow CHI Franciscan at Facebook.com\CHIFranciscan, @CHIFranciscanon Twitter and @CHI.Franciscan on Instagram, or go to our website for information www.chifranciscan.org.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 23 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
