Williams to attend Race for the Cure
Carolina Panthers’ DeAngelo Williams talks about
breast cancer
DeAngelo Williams and WBTV’s Molly Grantham
By Lukas Johnson
ljohnson@charlotteobserver.com
One could argue that without Carolina Panthers’ running back DeAngelo Williams, NFL players may have never donned pink on the gridiron in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Williams’ mother, Sandra Hill, was a two-time breast cancer survivor who succumbed to the disease this spring. All four of Hill’s sisters also lost their lives to breast cancer.
Williams, who began to advocate for breast cancer awareness when his mother’s breast cancer recurred in 2009, went on to be an instrumental player behind getting the NFL to support breast cancer awareness each October by having players wear pink cleats, socks and ribbon emblems on their uniforms, as well as decorating stadiums nationwide with pink-themed signs.
The 18th annual Susan G. Komen Charlotte Race for the Cure will be Oct. 4 at Marshall Park in Charlotte. Online registration for this year’s race will be open through Oct. 3.
Williams also serves as captain of Williams Warriors, a 415-member team that’s raised more than $100,000. Williams Warriors is the largest team registered and has raised more than $21,000 so far this year. […]
(Note: Since publication of the Charlotte Observer article, the Williams Warriors team has grown to over 600 members and has raised over $34,000.)
Williams answered five questions for The Charlotte Observer via email. Read on to learn about his favorite memory of his mom, where he gets his inspiration and why he thinks it’s important for the community to get involved. […]
Q: What would you want people to know most about the Race for the Cure and why it is it important to get involved?
A: “It is important because it draws awareness to so many people. Friends come and run or walk together. You just don’t realize how many people you know who have been affected by breast cancer until you start talking about it. The actual race day helps everyone affected by breast cancer because you can see an incredible support system that is set up here in Charlotte. It lets everyone who is/has been diagnosed, or even people who are dealing with a family member or friend being diagnosed, know they are not alone in this fight.” […]
Click here to read the complete article and interview with DeAngelo Williams: CharlotteObserver.com
From Komen Charlotte, important links and additional information for the 2014 Race for the Cure:
Click here to register for Charlotte’s Race for the Cure
Registration options include joining as an individual, joining Team Molly … Williams Warriors (or another team of your choice), or donating to an individual or team of your choice.
As of distribution time, WBTV’s Saturday weather forecast is very favorable, with partly cloudy skies and high-temps of 72-degrees.
WBTV is a major partner with Komen Charlotte for the annual Race for the Cure. Last year’s race attracted an estimated 30,000 people to uptown Charlotte, with over 800 teams raising $1.5 million.
On the main stage see the exclusive DJ Racecar, a custom racecar that transforms into a DJ booth. Meet NASCAR’s Taylor Stricklin and other celebrities including WBTV’s Molly Grantham, if her baby due on Oct. 3, can wait. Enjoy the Harris Teeter Kids’ FunZone and participate in the FunZone t-shirt design contest.
With a morning of exercise, food, entertainment, and fundraising, Race for the Cure also provides time for celebration of life, where runners and walkers of all ages gather to honor survivors winning the battle against breast cancer, and time to remember those who have been lost to this devastating disease.
Click here for press photos and event details
Contact:
Lynda Anello, Director of Marketing
Susan G. Komen Charlotte
T: 704.347.8181
l.anello@komencharlotte.org
Robert B Butler | PR
www.RBButler.com