Community members, Advocate Health Care and representatives from the Chicago Bears came together Monday night for the Monday Night Lights for Breast Cancer Awareness event at Maine East High School.
Breast cancer survivors and patients joined with Chicago Bears players for a rally to reinforce diagnosis prevention, early detection and treatment.
“My stepmother is a breast cancer survivor, and it just means so much,” said Javon Wims, a wide receiver for the Bears. “I saw the struggle she went through, but I saw the fight in her so this means a lot.”
A ceremony honored breast cancer survivors and cancer fighters.
“The message is community,” said Doug Carnahan, vice president of corporate partnerships with the Chicago Bears. “We’re just proud to be a part of it.”
Wims’ teammates Pat O’Donnell, James Daniels and Benny Cunningham were at the event.
“I’m just happy to be out here and to be able to support these women who have been through so much,” Cunningham said. “And they still come out here, and they’re strong.”
Breast health navigators were among participants.
“We are still having almost as many people diagnosed with breast cancer per year as ever before,” said Heidi Memmel, breast surgeon at Advocate Lutheran General and an event speaker. “We are detecting things much earlier, though, and our treatments are getting better.”
Bears team mascot Staley Da Bear also was at a gathering in which pink was prevalent.
“We set out, when we partnered with the Chicago Bears, to say, together, we want to improve the health of our communities,” said Kelly Jo Golson, chief marketing officer at Advocate Aurora Health.
The Maine East High School football team, cheerleaders, poms and marching band were on the field and sidelines.
“I think anytime we can host a great community event and partner up with Advocate and the Chicago Bears to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we couldn’t ask for a better place to do it,” said Steve Schanz, Maine East High School athletic director.
Youth football players from Park Ridge and Elmwood Park took photographs with the Bears players.
“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said Joe Severino of Park Ridge, founder of Park Ridge Knights Youth Football.
“It’s all about a good cause,” said Mitch Ariola of River Grove, father of Luciano Ariola, 6, a first-grader. Luciano plays for Elmwood Park Rush Football. Luciano’s grandmother and great-grandmother had breast cancer.
“They’re both survivors,” Mitch Ariola said.
About hope, Wims said, “it’s everything. Hope is a symbol of strength to just have that fight mentality. Never give up.”
