This NFL season, FOX Sports wants football fans across America to get in the huddle with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and help lead the drive against childhood cancer.

This fall, FOX Sports has teamed with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to help kids who are sidelined by cancer and other deadly diseases. This season-long partnership will include public service announcements that will be aired all season long—including Super Bowl Sunday—and feature additional on-air mentions and other St. Jude events and activities.

FOX Sports Supports, the network's charitable initiative now in its third year, is a unique program that raises awareness, provides financial assistance and spurs volunteerism for health charities selected by FOX Sports employees.

Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Curt Menefee, Joe Buck, Pam Oliver, Jay Glazer and the rest of the NFL on FOX Sports on-air team are part of the team that seeks to give hope to the children and families of St. Jude. You, too, can become part of this dynamic offense by making a donation today.

"I played a long time in the NFL and have played with and seen a lot of tough and courageous individuals, but nobody can match the courage and determination of these wonderful children at
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw, along with his fellow NFL on FOX on-air team members, spent some of the preseason in Memphis, Tennessee, where they filmed three PSAs and learned about the hospital's ground-breaking research, innovative treatments and first-class patient care.

"I was awed by their spirit, attitude and determination," Bradshaw said after visiting the hospital. "And everyone at FOX Sports will do whatever it takes this season and beyond to help them conquer their battle against cancer."

During the filming and tour, Bradshaw and company also met with many families and the patients fighting for their lives … patients such as Shon.

Seventeen-year-old Shon was at the top of his game in 2009. As Mississippi's top high school football player, he was highly recruited by a number of college football's elite programs before finally choosing Auburn University. But before his college career could begin, cancer struck. Now at St. Jude receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Shon's had to put his college football dreams on hold to battle the disease.

"Cancer is like my opponent," said Shon, who started playing football at age 5. "Right now, the doctors are like my coaches. They give me a game plan so that when my treatment is over, I'll have beaten cancer. The most important thing in my life right now is to get cancer out of the way so I can play football again."

St. Jude treats patients, like Shon, from around the world, and no child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay for treatment. The hospital largely relies on public donations to help keep that promise, and Bill Wanger, executive vice president of FOX Sports, has tasked his team to rally America's football fans to the St. Jude cause.

"We are honored to partner with a tremendous organization like St. Jude for the 2010 NFL on FOX season," Wanger said. "Using our unmatched on-air talent, brand and reach, our goal is to raise awareness for St. Jude so they can continue to fight for all the courageous children and families affected by this terrible disease."

Richard C. Shadyac Jr., chief executive officer for ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude, expressed his thanks to Wanger and the FOX on-air team and the FOX employees for choosing
St. Jude as its charity.

"We are so honored have been selected by FOX Sports employees as their partner during this year's NFL season," Shadyac said. "We've been finding cures and saving kids for nearly 50 years and this opportunity helps us recruit millions of football fans to join our team in the fight against deadly diseases like cancer."

 

September 2010
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