PITTSBURGH -- Some of the Pittsburgh Steelers visited Magee-Womens Hospital for a healthy cooking demonstration on Friday, raising awareness for breast cancer.
Deshea Townsend, Max Starks, Tony Hills, Dennis Dixon and 20 breast cancer survivors were all part of the program, which stressed the importance of survivors maintaining a healthy weight and eating a good diet to protect themselves against the disease.
"I think it's very important that they watch their diet, just like we watch our diet, because you want to be around for a very long time and have no injuries or anything else happen to you," Starks said.
All four of the players have family members who battled breast cancer. They brought pink Terrible Towels with them, instead of the usual yellow ones.
Video - Watch Michelle Wright's Report From The Steelers' Hospital Event"My mother's a survivor, first and foremost," Starks said. "For 17 years, my mother's been getting on me every football play, and I know if it wasn't for different efforts like this and the advances they've made in science, that wouldn't be possible, so it's kind of my way of giving back."
Townsend lost his mother to breast cancer. He said she kept the disease private until it was too late.
"When we found out about it -- the family -- it was kind of her keeping it to herself. And I think the more awareness and the more education now that you can learn from this, the better you can be," Townsend said. "If she would have known some of the things we know now, she still could be here with us today."
October is
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Steelers are promoting it in a variety of ways, including some players wearing pink cleats, laces and gloves on the football field.
Video - Becky Emmers Reports On Big Ben's Pink Spikes, Willie Parker's Pink Laces
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