Steelers help fight breast cancer

Category: Health Published on Thursday, 15 October 2009 09:28 Written by Courier Newsroom Hits: 2001

The Steelers came to Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC on Friday to cook and serve lunch to breast cancer survivors, to help educate them on some healthy foods to eat, and to share their connection to breast cancer. Tony Hills, reserve offensive tackle, grandmother, Lillian Lemons, died of breast cancer when he was 6.

Max Starks', starting left tackle, mom, Elleanor is a 17 year survivor. He was in the third grade when she told her family.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT—Chef Vic Mannela shows Deshea Townsend how to make the stuffed green peppers with rice, beans, and feta with Max Starks, Tony Hill, and Dennis Dixon watching.

Deshea Townsend’s, defensive back, mom, Lena, died 10 years ago, she kept her diagnosis a secret. He says education is the key to early diagnosis. Women should take breast cancer awareness seriously and had his mother known then how to prevent and seek early treatment her outcome may have been different, he said. He wears a tattoo of his mother’s birth date and date of death framed in angel wings on his left arm.

STEELERS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MAX STARKS prepares some vegetables for a side dish, Jicama and Orange Salad with Mint.

Dennis Dixon, third-string quarterback, mom, Jueretta, died at the beginning of his second semester during his freshman year at Oregon Feb. 3, 2004.

The Team and these players came out to show support of those who survived and are fighting the breast cancer battle, as well as to bring more awareness to the cause. Starks, Hills, Townsend, and Dixon stayed afterwards to sign pink terrible towels and take photos with survivors of breast cancer.