RENTON, Wash. – Today the Seattle Seahawks, in partnership with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, the team's Official Health Care Partner, 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 and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health participated in a ceremonial raising of the Crucial Catch flag at Lumen Field. The Seahawks will host the team's annual Crucial Catch game on October 31 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is focused on creating healthy communities. In support of this effort, we are proud of our longstanding partnership with the Seahawks to educate and raise awareness about the importance of early cancer detection through annual screenings," said Ketul J. Patel, chief executive officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

To encourage scheduling regular health care screenings, fans will see a variety of colors throughout the campaign that represent multiple cancers that can be detected early through annual screenings, including:

• Navy: Colon Cancer
• Pink: Breast Cancer
• Lavender: All Cancers
• Teal: Cervical Cancer
• Blue: Prostate Cancer
• Gold: Childhood Cancers
• White: Lung Cancer

The Lumen Field arch lights will also feature an array of these colors on October 8 to represent the campaign.

"Cancer is a disease that affects so many individuals and families and we know that detecting cancers in the early stages increases treatment options for patients and saves lives. We encourage everyone to consult with their health care provider about recommended cancer screenings," said Gary S. Kaplan, MD, chief executive officer of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

As part of the campaign, the Seahawks and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are partnering with the Washington State Radiological Association and Cierra Sisters to host a special breast cancer awareness event, Tackling Breast Cancer Disparities. The event will be held virtually on Saturday, October 16 from 10-11 a.m. and feature an expert panel discussing the importance of screening and early detection, especially for Black women, who are more likely to get aggressive forms of breast cancer at a younger age. The Seahawks' Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Karen Wilkins-Mickey, will give welcome remarks, and team mascot Blitz will participate in distributing raffle prizes. For more information or to register, click here.

In support of Crucial Catch, throughout the month of October, the Seahawks will donate 12% of the proceeds from in-store Seahawks Pro Shop purchases of the official Seahawks Crucial Catch gear to Crucial Cash. In partnership with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Crucial Cash funds will help local patients who cannot cover the incidental costs of cancer treatment. Fans will also be able to donate at the Pro Shop at checkout. At the team's Crucial Catch game at Lumen Field on Oct. 31, $0.25 for every bottle of water purchased will be donated to Crucial Cash. Donations can also be made online directly at vmfh.org/crucialcash.

Visit Seahawks.com/CrucialCatch to learn more about cancer screenings and early detection.

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region of Washington state, offering access to some of the country's most prestigious experts and hospitals that are internationally known for superior quality. With a team of 18,000 team members, including nearly 5,000 employed physicians and affiliated providers, we unite the brightest health care minds in the region to provide world-class clinical excellence at 11 hospitals and nearly 300 sites of care throughout the Puget Sound area. We are proud to be the home of Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research. We embrace our community's uniquely vibrant, active culture by providing holistic, personalized and patient-centered care. We are committed to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, including the poor and underserved, providing more than $300 million in community benefit – free, subsidized, and reduced cost health care and programs.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health was formed in 2021 by bringing together two leading health systems in Washington state. Our family of hospitals includes Virginia Mason Hospital, Seattle; St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale and Bremerton; St. Anne Hospital, Burien; Rehabilitation Hospital, Tacoma; and Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital, Tacoma. Learn more at www.vmfh.org.