Larry Fitzgerald – A Higher Cause!

As many NFL fans may have noticed, it is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. In order to promote awareness the NFL has asked teams to show their support by wearing pink, either with their shoes, gloves or wristbands. This disease has effected many women in America and this is the story of how it affected one NFL player in particular, Larry Fitzgerald.

Larry was like any typical high school boy except he had exceptional talent. He self admittingly was lazy, he wasn’t driven and didn’t quite see the big picture. His parents noticed that Larry had some growing up to do and they weren’t going to sit idle while he wasted his talent. They quickly enrolled Larry in the Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. There Larry matured and grew into a hard working, humble, dedicated and all around likeable person he is today. In 2002 Larry graduated and was ready to move to the next level.

After attending the Military Academy, Larry went on to the University of Pittsburgh to play football for the Panthers. That was when disaster struck. In 2003, his sophomore season at Pitt was bitter sweet. Larry was succeeding tremendously on the football field. He won the Walter Camp Award for the Nations best player, he was named the Nations top receiver and won the Biletnikoff  Award,  he was a runner up for the Heisman Trophy and was named a unanimus selection for the All American team. It was clear his talent was starting to shine. In the same year tragedy struck, his mother passed away from Breast Cancer.

Now, Larry uses his popularity to help spread the word about Breast Cancer and how important it is for women to get routine check-ups. His mother was diagnosed with the disease after it had already grown to large to defeat.

“My mom didn’t learn about breast cancer until late in the stage, and so we were a little behind the 8-ball. So by raising awareness and getting people tested and giving them information early in the process, we can definitely save a lot of lives,” Fitzgerald said.

Currently, Larry is an All Pro Wide Receiver with the Arizona Cardinals and he is using his fame to bring to light how important awareness and early diagnoses of this disease is. He has paired up with Cold Stone Creamery by selling Larry Fitzgerald Gift Cards where proceeds of the money is sent to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Larry knows first hand the tragedy of this disease and urges women to get check ups in order to prevent the growth of cancer before it becomes too late. Let’s do our part and help Larry in his efforts. Visit his website LarryFitzgerald11.com and see all of the good things that Larry has done and continues to do to help fight this disease. Together, with a little proactive action, we can make sure that no family has to endure the tragedy that the Fitzgerald family has. The NFL is doing their part,  so is Larry Fitzgerald and we urge you to do the same.