The Green Bay Packers are entering the 10th season of the Packers vs. Cancer campaign, continuing a decade-long effort aimed at raising awareness of all cancers, raising funds for research and care and reminding fans that early screenings save lives.
This year, the campaign enters a new chapter with UW Health becoming the Official Health Care Partner of the Green Bay Packers and presenting partner of the Packers vs. Cancer campaign. Through this partnership, the Packers and UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center will continue the campaign's mission of bringing fans together in the fight against cancer.
"As we celebrate the 10th year of the Packers vs. Cancer campaign, we're excited to begin this next chapter alongside UW Health and the team at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center," said Packers director of corporate partnerships sales and activations Justin Wolf. "Every person's experience with cancer is different, and this campaign is about standing alongside those individuals and their families, honoring their journeys and supporting the work that makes a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer."
Packers center Sean Rhyan joined representatives from the Packers and UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center on Tuesday to officially launch this year's program and honor the new partnership driving the campaign. During the announcement, he shared the story of his family's experience with cancer and urged fans to get involved with the Packers vs. Cancer campaign.
As part of the campaign's kickoff, Packers players Benjamin St-Juste, Donovan Jennings and Josh Gesky visited UW Health Eastpark Medical Center earlier this month to spend time with patients receiving cancer treatment.
This year's Packers vs. Cancer campaign features a new Packers vs. Cancer hat, with $5 from the sale of each hat going directly to UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. The green striped New Era winter knit hat, which features the Packers logo on the front and the Packers vs. Cancer logo on the back, is available now online, at packersproshop.com and will be available in store soon. Shoppers at the Packers Pro Shop can also help raise funds for UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center by adding a $1 or more donation to any purchase, now through the month of October. Those who donate will help contribute to UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center's ongoing cancer research programs.
The campaign will be recognized during the game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 18. The game will be presented by UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center and attending fans will receive a Packers vs. Cancer Roll-a-Banner. The game will also incorporate several game entertainment elements that will honor cancer survivors and their loved ones.
"We're thrilled to team up with the Green Bay Packers for Packers vs. Cancer," said Dr. Christian Capitini, director of UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. "Supporters of Packers vs. Cancer will be helping patients at the cancer center where we care for some of Wisconsin's most complex cancer cases, providing patients access to innovative therapies and groundbreaking clinical trials that often aren't available elsewhere in the state, and sometimes are only available at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center."
Several Packers players will also bring the Packers vs. Cancer initiative to the high school level by visiting Bay Port High School as the Pirates host the West De Pere Phantoms on Friday, Oct. 2. The Packers will present a donation to both schools' STING Cancer programs. The game will be broadcast live on WACY— TV32.
For more than 50 years, UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center has been leading through groundbreaking research, innovative cancer treatments and nationally recognized patient care. As Wisconsin's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, and one of the first in the nation to earn that distinction, Carbone Cancer Center is at the forefront of discoveries that are transforming cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. More than 400 researchers, physicians and educators across the University of Wisconsin come together with a shared mission to reduce the burden of cancer in Wisconsin and beyond, bringing hope to patients through scientific breakthroughs, clinical innovation and compassionate care.
Learn more at www.uwhealth.org/packers-vs-cancer.
