CHICAGO, Nov. 29, 2017 – Jordan Howard will wear luminous blue and green cleats in the colors of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) when he takes to the field Sunday, Dec. 3, in the Chicago Bears game against the San Francisco 49ers. For the second year, Howard has chosen the PFF as his cause in the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats campaign and will auction his cleats after Sunday’s game. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the Foundation.
Howard lost his father, Dr. Reginald B. Howard, to pulmonary fibrosis (PF) at age 52 after a nine-year battle. Jordan was 12 years old at the time.
“My dad came to all my football practices and games,” said Howard. “He was my best friend.”
Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating group of progressive diseases that cause scarring in the lungs, limiting oxygen intake. As a result, the brain, heart and other organs do not get the oxygen required to function properly. PF affects 200,000 Americans and results in more than 40,000 deaths annually. Fifty-thousand new cases are diagnosed each year. There is no known cure.
“Even after his diagnosis, Dad never gave up on life and his family. I want to share his strength with people fighting this disease. Keep having hope and faith, and keep believing there will be a cure for pulmonary fibrosis,” he said.
Last year, Howard announced his commitment to help raise awareness and funds for the PFF at the Foundation’s Annual Volunteer Meeting in Chicago. Since then, he has participated in the inaugural Cleat Week, lent his image to a PF awareness billboard campaign in Times Square, and led a successful fundraising appeal on the 10-year anniversary of his father’s passing.
“Our community of patients, caregivers, physicians and researchers is extremely grateful for Jordan’s efforts to shine the light on this deadly disease,” said Bill Schmidt, President and CEO of the PFF. “His perseverance on the field inspires all of us who are determined to find a cure for pulmonary fibrosis.”
For information about the auction of Jordan Howard’s cleats for pulmonary fibrosis, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org.