Ravens Support Breast Cancer Survivors With A Visit To Mercy Hospital
BALTIMORE (WJZ) --You may have noticed the NFL players sporting pink during Sunday's game.
That's because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Ravens visited some very special women to provide encouragement Monday, but it may be the players the players who benefited the most.
Jessica Kartalija has the details.
Fresh off a blowout win in Tampa, Fla., Ravens Linebacker Arthur Brown, Linebacker Daryl Smith, Cornerback Jimmy Smith and Wide Receiver Torrey Smith took their day off to brighten some beautiful faces at Mercy Medical Center.
For more information on breast cancer, check out our health section.
"Today we're here in support of the breast cancer patients, just showing them our appreciation and here to invest some time in them," ---- "hopefully they will get something from our investment, some strength and encouragement," said Brown.
Some players have a personal connection to breast cancer.
"I've had cousins, great aunts, I mean there have been a number of people in my life," Daryl Smith said. "It's near and dear to me and I just hope everybody does what they are supposed to do."
The players signed autographs, snapped photos and handed out long-stemmed roses that were pink, of course.
"We're really just showing not only our individual support as players, but our support as the National Football League bringing hope and encouragement to a lot of people battling this." said Brown.
"I think it's important for people to see us out here and give them a chance to see what we believe in and put a smile on a face and bring some cheer," Daryl Smith added.
For the nurses and the women battling breast cancer at Mercy, their visit means a lot.
"It's very uplifting to know that people really care and think about us," Monica Sheard, a cancer survivor said.
But it may mean even more to the players.
"It means a lot to see that strength and to know that they support us as well,"Torrey Smith said. "It's awesome."
"Us coming out here to spend time with them, hopefully it will encourage them and they can keep pushing on and be strong," Daryl Smith added.
The team also partnered with the American Cancer Society to support the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk Sunday and Team Purple, which raised $10,285 as of Monday morning.
During the team's game this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, staff will distribute 50,000 pink ribbons to fans as they enter M&T Bank Stadium during their annual Breast Cancer Awareness game. Also during that game about 20 breast cancer patients and survivors will be honored before the game in a ceremony. Game-worn pink merchandise will also be auctioned off.
To date the team has raised $7 million for breast cancer awareness, prevention and research.
On Oct. 25, the Ravens will also be a part of the A Crucial Catch Day event that helps provide women with breast cancer education and screenings at the Family Health Centers of Baltimore in Cherry Hill.
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