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When Novartis contacted Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker about their new prostate cancer awareness and testing campaign, they had no idea the issue was affecting them.
Novartis’ new “Relax your Tight End” campaign called on stars past and present, including Walker, Rob Gronkowski, George Kittle, Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis, Colby Parkinson and Greg Olsen, to not be afraid to take a blood test for early detection.
Walker’s father-in-law had died from the disease, so when Novartis contacted him, it was “a no-brainer.”
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Delanie Walker (82) and Jack Conklin (78) of the Tennessee Titans celebrate Walker’s second half touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 18, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
“It’s personal, it touched me. Now I can raise awareness and hopefully save lives to detect it early. I’m all for it,” the former professional player for the Tennessee Titans told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview.
Walker, like many other young men, was “skeptical.”
“It’s the rectum,” he admitted.
Delanie Walker of the Tennessee Titans runs after a reception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 21, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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“But the ‘Relax, it’s just a blood test’ campaign, it makes you feel better,” he continued. And that’s where tight ends come in – you can relax your tight end, because it’s just a blood test. I think it’s a lot easier for guys like me in their 40s and older to have these conversations, to talk about it, to go get tested, because I know it’s just a blood test. »
Walker knows the importance of connecting with everyday people, another key reason he wants to help Novartis spread the word.
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Derik Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
“That’s the end goal. If we talk about it here, we hope people can say, ‘I did the same thing as Delanie Walker, I did the same thing as George, the same thing as Vernon or Greg Olsen.’ That’s why we are part of it, because we want to show that we are human too, we are part of it, we have to be selected and go through the same process that everyone else goes through to feel connected with them. »
Novartis will host events in the Bay Area during Super Bowl week for blood testing, and fans will be able to offer premium gifts including souvenirs and tickets.
