When you think about the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are most known for their tenacity, hard-hitting, and keeping the standard as the standard. This tenacity and toughness is also a great way to describe this fan base as they are never willing to back down from a fight. That fight may even sometimes be against their own offensive coordinator when chants of wanting him to be fired break out. Sometimes though, Steelers fans band together for a good cause, rather than being negative.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers fans celebrate during the Immaculate Reception game vs. Las Vegas Raiders in the 2022 regular season.
Another Battle That The Steelers Community Needs To Come To Battle Together
Most recently during the passing of the team's legendary running back, Franco Harris, many fans banded together to show support for him by creating signs and placing flowers and other items at the memorial for the "Immaculate Reception" near Acrisure Stadium. Also, when the terrible incident happened to Damar Hamlin last season, not only did Steelers fans band together, but the entire NFL community as a whole donated to his foundation that is based near Pittsburgh.
Now, there is another battle that the Steelers community needs to come to battle together. On October 8, for the Steelers game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium, former Steelers running back, Jerome Bettis (in partnership with the Pink Lemonade Stand Challenge), will be raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This challenge is made to break a Guinness World Record for the most money raised at a lemonade stand in a day with the proceeds going toward this research.
Over the years, the NFL has supported this cause immensely from flooding the fields with a sea of pink, to auctioning different items to go toward different cancer research foundations. The biggest takeaway with the NFL's partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness is to market to women encouraging them to get annual screenings that could possibly be lifesaving. In 2016, the NFL decided to move on from the sea of pink and let teams decide their own cancer causes to support.
During the duration of wearing pink, the Steelers were massive supporters of the cause. Like Bettis, their former running back DeAngelo Williams was also a huge supporter of this cause. He has shown his support by paying for over 500 women's mammogram screenings through his nonprofit organization, as well as wearing pink on gamedays during this month and even went as far as dying the tips of his hair pink. This is just one of the many examples of players around the league supporting this great cause.
Jack Dempsey/AP Photo
Pink balloons are released as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month during halftime of an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings in Denver.
The main reason that Bettis is such a huge supporter of this event is because of his mother Gladys. In 2014, Bettis found out that she was diagnosed with stage II invasive lobular carcinoma and would undergo a lumpectomy followed by radiation and chemotherapy. During this fight, Bettis became a huge supporter of the cause and has used his platform for years now to spread awareness. He spreads this message to everyone so that they won't ever have to go through the suffering that his mother and family went through.
"We learned my mother had breast cancer—and it changed all of our lives. But in that moment, I realized where my toughness and my strength really came from." Bettis then said, "I want to try to do everything I can to prevent the next person from going through the pain and the hurt that my mother and our family went through."
Through the suffering that Gladys has gone through, the entire family has become advocates in supporting this research. This passionate support that Bettis has towards Breast Cancer Awareness is the main reason why they decided to host this record in Pittsburgh. They wanted to do this in a city that was passionate, able to unite for noble causes, and is always winning, breaking records.
Robinson Buckson / The Detroit News
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis stands with his family after having a plaque unveiled at his old high school in Detroit, Michigan.
If you plan on making it to the Steelers game this week stop, by the lemonade stand and help them break a record for such a great cause. You also may get the opportunity to meet one of the greatest Steelers ever. Even if you can't join Steeler Nation on Sunday, the fundraiser is online in case you feel like you want to donate!
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