The Dallas Cowboys boast a number of talented players across their storied history and one of them is the incredible Darren Woodson (who deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame). Woody was a part
of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history and was individually one of the reasons that it existed
Recently Darren joined Blogging The Boys to discuss a variety of things. We obviously talked about the Cowboys both past and present, the Arizona State Sun Devils, but we also talked about the awareness that Woody is trying to raise for cancer prevention alongside fellow NFL Alumni through their “GEAR UP Against Cancer” campaign.
You can watch our conversation below.
The National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Cancer Prevention and Control have expanded the “GEAR UP Against Cancer” campaign to Dallas and several other markets across the country. The initiative aims to increase public awareness of lung cancer’s impact, emphasize the importance of regular screenings for adults at high risk for developing lung cancer, and create a deeper understanding of the unique needs of cancer survivors.
Lung cancer is often discovered only after it has spread to other parts of the body and when survival is at its lowest, according to the CDC, which is why annual screenings are recommended for high-risk populations to help identify lung cancer in its early stages when treatment works best. Statistics also show that men have higher rates of lung cancer diagnosis and death than women, and that cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor.
“Far too many people in our country are affected by lung cancer. Through ‘GEAR UP Against Cancer’, we’re working to change that by raising awareness about the actions each of us can take to support prevention and early detection,” said NFL Alumni CEO, former All-Pro Safety, and Super Bowl Champion Brad Edwards. “Our goal is to make sure everyone understands the steps they can take to prevent lung cancer, by not starting to smoke or quitting smoking, getting screened if they’re at high risk, or staying on top of their health as survivors. When we protect our health, we protect our families and our future.”
The campaign features Charles Haley, Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro, Pro Bowl Defensive End and Linebacker, 5-Time Super Bowl Champion, and Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Darren Woodson, Former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro, Pro Bowl Safety and 3-Time Super Bowl Champion, and Byron Williams, for NFL Wide Receiver and President, NFL Alumni Dallas Chapter. They are among more than a dozen NFL Alumni ambassadors who will conduct outreach and education about the impact of lung cancer, the steps that can be taken to prevent it, the benefits of and need for regular screenings for adults at high risk for developing lung cancer, and the actions that survivors can take to stay healthy.
“With this campaign, we’re working to change the staggering lung cancer statistics about men. We meet them where they are with clear and compelling information about prevention and early detection,” said CAPT Djenaba Joseph, MD, MPH, Acting Director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.
Former Cowboys pass rusher Charles Haley is also a part of the campaign and Woody noted that Haley was among the primary leaders of the Cowboys when the team was winning Super Bowls in his time. I asked him why he thinks it is that the franchise can’t seem to break through and want to make sure it is understood that he wasn’t being hot take-y and was trying to answer an impossible question.
Woodson noted that people, including himself, blame ownership more often than not, and obviously there is some merit to that. He also noted though that the ownership in question has assembled teams that were not able to get it done in various instances which is what really makes this whole thing such a quagmire.
It was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy. Our thanks to Woody for his time, both with us and in trying to raise awareness against cancer.
