Vikings Fullback C.J. Ham Leads the Fight Against Cancer in the NFL

Published: October 14, 2024

Vikings Fullback C.J. Ham Leads the Fight Against Cancer in the NFL

Movieguide® Contributor

Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham is leading the fight against cancer in the NFL.

This season the NFL partnered with the Crucial Catch Initiative to “intercept cancer.”

Crucial Catch “promotes prevention and early detection of cancer, which can impact anyone at any age, and increases access to lifesaving cancer screenings. Since 2009, Crucial Catch has raised more than $27 million and impacted over one million people in communities that need it most,” the website description reads.

Ham is among the 15 spokesmen for the initiative who lost his mother to pancreatic cancer.

“As believers, our faith [shows] we want to love the way Jesus loves, and I would say that my mom truly exemplified that,” Ham said in video discussing the initiative. “She was the closest thing on this planet that I had to Jesus’ love.”

.@Vikings fullback @cjham28 is one of the millions of Americans who has been impacted by cancer. His mother Tina lost her brave fight 4 years ago.

Him and his family are encouraging other women going through their own journeys to make a #CrucialCatch through regular screening. pic.twitter.com/61gpDw87lj

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 2, 2024

Ham’s mother, Tina, fought her battle with cancer for 14-months before she ultimately died.

Following her death, Ham had only one thing to cling to, his faith.

“Our faith was something that we leaned on,” he revealed.

Towards the end of the video, Ham encouraged all viewers to get screened.

“Everyone should get regular screenings as much as possible,” Ham said. “Being able to detect it early gives you a better chance to live and to beat it and to have a healthy life.”

To honor those who either have survived cancer or are in the midst of the battle, the Vikings held a “Pamper Her Purple” event which was inspired by Tina.

Ham and his wife, Stephanie, “spend time with the women and the women enjoy access to the Vikings’ amenities and are treated to a spa day,” Sports Spectrum reported.

In his Instagram bio, Ham classifies himself as a “Follower of Jesus.”

He also included the Bible verse, Romans 5:8, which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”