The Cowboys hosted 'Team Up for Health,' a breast cancer awareness event presented by Novartis, the Official Pharmaceutical Partner of the ݮƵ, at AT&T Stadium on December 11th. In collaboration with Baylor Scott & White Health and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the event empowered fans to take charge of their health, making medical experts available for 1-on-1 conversations as well as providing opportunities to register for mammograms. Attendees also enjoyed a meet-and-greet with Cowboys players past and present, photos with ݮƵ Cheerleaders, and VIP guided stadium tours.
The free, family-friendly event kicked off with an exclusive sneak peek of the ݮƵ Cheerleaders' new video for Novartis' "Your Attention, Please" campaign, a bold initiative urging women to understand their risk and prioritize early breast cancer detection.
The ݮƵ Cheerleaders join Novartis and breast cancer survivor Lyndsay Levingston, founder of SurviveHER, for "Your Attention, Please," urging action on breast health. Know your risk, get screened, and act now because early detection can make all the difference
The video led into a live panel discussion, "From Sideline to Spotlight: Making Breast Cancer Conversations Part of Everyday Life," moderated by Atoya Burleson, founder of Ladies Playbook and featuring two Cowboys All-Pros, DeMarcus Ware and Zack Martin plus current Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler, alongside Dr. Naima Bridges from Baylor Scott & White Health, and Natasha Mmeje from The Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Building on their successful support of Crucial Catch and My Cause My Cleats this season, Novartis convened the panel to explore how discussions about women's bodies in sports can open the door to deeper, more impactful conversations about women's health, particularly breast health. Three takeaways from the discussion were:
#1. When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for many cancers is over 90%[1], and if caught early, breast cancer survivors have over a 99% survival rate. [2]
#2. Annual exams, screenings, mammograms, and self-exams are essential tools for early detection. Start today by doing three things: learn your family history, schedule your annual check-up, and practice self-awareness through breast self-exams. These small actions build confidence and increase your chances of catching changes early.
#3. 1 in 8 women will face breast cancer in their lifetime.[3] Open dialogue with your friends, your physician, and your family are the best way to encourage proactive health decisions and normalize conversations about breast care.
[1] American Cancer Society. Cancer Screening Saves Lives | Crucial Catch. Accessed December 15, 2025.
[2] American Cancer Society. Breast cancer survival rates. Accessed December 15, 2025.
[3] Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Newman LA, et al. Breast Cancer Statistics 2024. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2024;74(6):477-495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21863
The ݮƵ Team Up for Health event, presented by Novartis, united fans and communities for breast cancer awareness, screening sign-ups, and a powerful panel discussion, turning passion for the game into a commitment to proactive health and early detection.
Kelli Finglass, Director of the ݮƵ Cheerleaders, who took part in the meet and greet with fans following the panel discussion, was inspired to take immediate action.
"I just made an appointment for an exam with Dr. Bridges after hearing her speak on this panel," said Finglass. "I went right up to her and asked her if I could schedule a time to come see her. Prevention has to become part of our lifestyle. That message really hit home for me. It's something everyone should really take to heart.
We have had a lot of cheerleaders over the years whose families have been affected by cancer, so we understand that early detection and prevention are critical. This is an important reminder to each of us that we need to take care of our health, first and foremost. No matter how thin we are stretched when it comes to our busy schedules, screenings are too important to overlook."
Dr. Bridges was excited about the ݮƵ Cheerleaders' ability to use their popularity to reach a wide and diverse audience, particularly younger women.
"We don't talk enough about breast cancer risk under age 40, and that needs to change," said Dr. Bridges. "Incidence in younger women is rising, and waiting until you are 40 for your first conversation or screening can mean missed opportunities for early detection. And it is never too early for self-exams so that you can learn what is normal for your body. That knowledge makes it easier to notice changes and to advocate for yourself when you visit your doctor."
Advocacy is a role that crosses gender barriers, which is why former Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack Martin addressed how men can be important players when it comes to prevention.
"Our role as men is to be supportive, to lead by example, and to listen," noted Martin. "We need to be present for the women in our lives, whether it's driving them to doctor's appointments or something as simple as asking if they have gotten their scans recently. Our moms, wives, and sisters take care of others before they take care of themselves. We need to insist they take care of themselves as devotedly as they take care of us."
Self-care was continually emphasized during the panel discussion.
"Breast health should be part of your regular routine, so just like you plan workouts or meals, schedule screenings and plan time to learn your risk," said Natasha Mmeje, director of community outreach at Susan G. Komen. "Don't wait for a doctor to bring it up, be proactive. It is never too early for self-care. I talk to my teenagers about it."
Mmeje pointed to research which shows that when women miss their first screening mammogram, they have a 53% higher risk of being diagnosed with stage III breast cancer over the next 25 years, and nearly a fourfold higher risk of stage IV.[4]
DeMarcus Ware, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end, was taken aback by those numbers as well as research noting that women of color face a nearly 40% higher mortality rate from breast cancer compared to white women.[5] Those statistics only strengthened his resolve to lend his voice to this important cause.
[4] Ma Z, He W, Zhang Y, Mao X, Tapia J, Hall P, Humphreys K, Czene K. First mammography screening participation and breast cancer incidence and mortality in the subsequent 25 years: population-based cohort study. BMJ. 2025;390:e085029. doi:10.1136/bmj-2025-085029
[5] Susan G. Komen. New report confirms racial disparities in breast cancer mortality; Susan G. Komen calls for urgent action to close the gap. Accessed December 15, 2025.
"We can use sports to reduce the stigma of cancer and use our platforms as ݮƵ for a purpose," said Ware. "When I played, one of my teammates, Bradie James, became a great advocate for breast cancer awareness because he lost his mom to the disease. So, for me personally, when I had a chance to team up with Novartis on this project, it was an easy 'yes' because I feel like I'm speaking for Bradie and all my teammates whose families have been affected by cancer."
"You hear some of these numbers and, at first, they sound scary. But then you learn the statistics about prevention, you know there's hope. Not just hope, but a real path for good health through prevention. That's why we need to shine the light on breast health and amplify the conversation," continued Ware.
Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler knows the importance of conversation having lost his mother, Ladrida, to stage 4 breast cancer in 2019 while Josh was still in college.
"Among your family and your circle of friends, conversation and steadfast support are the best things we can do for our loved ones," according to Butler. "My mom had all boys, no daughters. She did a great job of telling me and my brothers about all the steps in her journey as she fought breast cancer. I was able to be there for her for pretty much everything, like when she had to shave her head. This topic of breast health is personal to me. My mom is my 'why' when it comes to being inspired to help others."
"Now I take our experiences and share her story in ways such as partnering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats program," continued Butler. "She would have loved that because she was a huge Cowboys fan. My mom wasn't able to see me make it to the NFL. But she and my dad, who I also lost while I was in college, would love that their favorite team has partnered to help educate both women and men not only about the importance of early screenings, but also about all the great services available to families who are going through a similar journey. I know my mom's smiling down from heaven right now. I want to keep the conversation going and share her story because being proactive, getting your scans, learning your family's medical history, and working with your loved ones as a team is the best way to defeat breast cancer."
To understand more about yours and your loved ones' health risks, and to find screening sites, visit .
And for more information on Novartis' partnership with the NFL and the Cowboys, visit .
