'It's really important for us to be here': Crucial Catch game promotes … – Washington Commanders

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Ahead of the Commanders’ Thursday Night Football game, Legends Plaza offered a space for fans to receive cancer awareness education and pay tribute to loved ones who have battled the disease.  
“Cancer has had a big part in our lives, so it’s just special being able to stand over there and talk to somebody and know that we’re not alone,” said Charleston, West Virginia, native Chris Patterson. “We have may have lost our parents to cancer, but we’re going to see here tonight that we’ve got family, friends and support around us in the burgundy and gold, so it’s gonna be awesome.” 
That sense of community support around the impacts of cancer was what Week 5’s Crucial Catch game was all about. The league-wide initiative, which unfolded in a first-of-its-kind way at FedExField on Thursday, focuses on promoting early detection, celebrating survivors and highlighting the fight of those currently undergoing treatment.  
Specific for the Commanders this year is increased attention on the intersection of cancer and health equity. That aspect of Crucial Catch was top of mind for Nefertari Carver of Robert F. Smith, who was posted up in Legends Plaza. 
“It’s really important for us to be here because prostate cancer disproportionately impacts Black men and we figured there’s no better place to connect with the communities we want to reach then coming to a Commanders game,” Carver said.
One in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer as compared to 1 in 8 white men. Black men also die at twice the rate as white men from the disease. With these harrowing statistics in mind, the presence of Robert F. Smith, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Conference of National Black Churches at an event with a large number of Black male fans in a predominantly Black Prince Georges County could really be seen as having potential life-saving impact.
The attention around prostate cancer that evening represents a larger shift in the Commanders’ cancer awareness initiatives. This October, efforts have expanded to include several types of cancers and different communities affected.
Those impacted by pediatric cancer, as another example, were recognized with a handful of touching moments on Thursday, including the ringing of an end-of-treatment bell by Nicholas, a 16-year-old boy who recently finished his treatments for osteosarcoma.
“The end of treatment bell symbolizes being ready to get back to normal life,” said Chris Bryant, the co-founder/director of the Hogfarmers Charitable Foundation, which hosted Nicholas. “To watch him do it in front of 60,000-plus fans cheering him on was absolutely priceless.”
Nicholas was wearing a yellow/gold shirt when he rang the bell, which was about more than just repping Washington. The NFL’s Crucial Catch logo includes yellow/gold (pediatric cancer), navy (colon cancer), lavender (all cancers), pink (breast cancer), teal (cervical cancer), white (lung cancer), purple (pancreatic cancer) and blue (prostate cancer).
All of these colors came together in one of the most powerful displays on the night during halftime. Wearing their respective Crucial Catch colors, survivors, caretakers and those currently undergoing treatment were recognized on the field. The soundtrack to their celebration was “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten, which was sung by ovarian cancer survivor and America’s Got Talent semifinalist Caly Bevier.
From delivering surprises and delights to promoting critical education, Week 5’s Crucial Catch game created memories that made those affected by cancer feel seen, heard and loved.
“These are experiences I’ve never had, and I’m so very happy,” said breast cancer survivor Janice Johnson. “I’m just overwhelmed with joy today.”
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From his days of earning all-state awards at Hillcrest High School to helping the Alabama Crimson Tide win national championships and getting drafted by the Washington Commanders, Brian Robinson Jr. has been able to thrive on the field because of his perseverance and determination.
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Greg Guy, who formed a tight bond with Robinson during the player’s time at Hillcrest, has a unique perspective on the running back’s approach to adversity and his relentless work ethic. 
In the five years that he played for Alabama, Robinson was only a full-time starter during his redshirt senior season. It’s not as common as it used to be, with college players electing to transfer if they don’t get the playing time they believe they deserve. That was not the way Robinson chose to approach things; he decided to wait for his chance, and because of that patience, he was able to reach his full potential.
Every step of Robinson’s life, family is found incredibly close by — rallying around him, vouching for him and making him feel like he can do anything. That powerful support system helped carry Robinson through hard times and made his highs so much sweeter.
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