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When Novartis approached Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker about their new campaign to raise prostate cancer awareness and testing, they had no idea the issue was hitting home.
Novartis’ new “Relax your tight end” campaign has urged star tight ends past and present, including Walker, Rob Gronkowski, George Kittle, Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis, Colby Parkinson and Greg Olsen, not to be afraid to get a blood test for early detection.
Walker’s father-in-law had died of the disease, so when Novartis reached out, it was a “no-brainer.”
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Delanie Walker (82) and Jack Conklin (78) of the Tennessee Titans celebrate Walker’s touchdown in the second half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 18, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
“This is personal, it hit home. Now I can spread awareness and hopefully save lives for detecting it early. I’m totally on board,” the former Tennessee Titans Pro Bowler told Pakinomist 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 campaign, ‘Relax, it’s just a blood test,’ it puts you at ease,” he continued. “And that’s where the tight ends come in—you can relax your tight end because it’s just a blood test. I think it makes it a lot easier for guys like myself in the 40s and up to have these conversations, to talk about it, to go and get screened, because I know it’s just a blood test.”
Walker knows the importance of being relatable to everyday people, another important 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 what the end goal is. If we’re here talking about it, we hope people can be like, ‘I did the same thing Delanie Walker did, I did the same thing George did, the same thing Vernon did, or Greg Olsen.’ That’s why we’re part of it, because we want to show that we’re human too, we’re part of it, we have to be screened and go through the same process that everyone else goes through to feel related to them.”
Novartis will host events in the Bay Area during Super Bowl week for blood draws and fans can provide premium giveaways, including memorabilia and tickets.
