Orchard Park, NY – The Buffalo Bills are partnering with Kaleida Health, the Western New York Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Zeta Tau Alpha to coordinate their third annual Billieve - Breast Cancer Awareness Program beginning this Sunday, September 21, 2008 at the Bills vs. Raiders game in Orchard Park.
Pregame activities include a pink ribbon distribution to fans at the entrance gates, breast cancer survivors on the field forming Stampede row, and the presentation of the game ball, which will be a special pink football. The Jills cheerleaders will also be using pink pom-poms during the game.
In addition, the Bills have designed exclusive items such as pink tees, hats, knit caps and Billieve logo mini-helmets that will be available during the season. The design features the Bills' logo, the pink ribbon and the inspirational message to "Billieve". The Buffalo Bills and Delaware North Companies Sportservice will donate $5.00 from the sale of every item to the WNY Komen Affiliate. These items will be available at The Bills Store locations in Orchard Park at Ralph Wilson Stadium and in Victor at Eastview Mall. These items will also be available at select Napa Auto Parts stores beginning next week.
The WNY Komen Affiliate promotes and aids in the work of the Cancer Services Program of New York State. These county partnerships provide breast health screening and cancer treatment services for uninsured or underinsured women who qualify. For more information on this life-saving breast cancer service program, please call the American Cancer Society at 1.800.227.2345. The Buffalo Bills also have created a community website page that lists the American Cancer Society phone numbers for individuals to call for this service.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to impart the message of the importance of early detection to such a large audience of Buffalo Bills fans," stated Jackie Mordaunt, WNY Komen Affiliate executive director. "One out of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection saves lives and is the single most important course of action in the fight against breast cancer."
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure is dedicated to discovering and delivering the cures, and finding ways to prevent breast cancer across the globe," said Hala Moddelmog, Susan G. Komen for the Cure president and ceo. "By distributing pink ribbons at the game, and including breast cancer survivors in their pregame activities, the Buffalo Bills and their fans are helping Komen promote breast cancer awareness across the NFL in a very dramatic way."
Kaleida Health is proud to be part of the BILLIEVE Team promoting early detection and breast cancer awareness. As the largest health care network in WNY, Kaleida is committed to advancing the health of our community through education, research and quality services.
"The BILLIEVE campaign gives us a wonderful opportunity to get the word out that all women ages 40 and over should be screened for breast cancer with mammography every year," said Francine Biondo, Kaleida health manager for mammography services. "Every Buffalo Bills fan has a mother, daughter, sister or friend that could be at risk."
While developing technology holds the promise for new detection and treatment methods, mammography remains a critical tool in the early detection of breast cancer, which can save lives. Kaleida Health is proud to offer the "softer mammogram" for increased comfort to every mammogram patient at Buffalo General, DeGraff Memorial, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle or Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospitals.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested more than $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
About WNY Komen Affiliate
Since 2001, the WNY Komen Affiliate has invested more than $2 million to provide funding and support to agencies in our local communities that provide mammograms and treatment, breast cancer education and ongoing support. Up to 75% of the money raised locally funds programs in Western New York, and the remaining 25% helps fund the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in these research programs have returned to Western New York for research programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Universities of Buffalo and Rochester.
About the Buffalo Bills
Founded in 1959, the Buffalo Bills are one of the most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL). The Bills have won two American Football League (AFL) Championships (1964 - 1965) and won an NFL record four straight AFC Championships (1990 - 1993) that included four trips to the Super Bowl. The Bills pride themselves on supporting the Western New York community by establishing player outreach programs, supporting NFL youth initiatives and increasing community awareness. For more Bills community relations information, please visit buffalobills.com or call (716) 648-1800.
