RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks, in partnership with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH), the team's Official Medical Services Provider, today announced cancer awareness activities to promote early detection through the NFL's Crucial Catch: Intercept Cancer initiative. The Seahawks will host the team's annual Crucial Catch game on October 20 vs. the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football. In celebration of the campaign, representatives from the Seahawks and VMFH held a ceremonial raising of the Crucial Catch flag today at Lumen Field.

"All of us at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are proud to stand with the Seattle Seahawks to champion the NFL's Crucial Catch initiative," said Dr. Joseph Rosales, Executive Medical Director, Cancer Services at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. "Early detection can make a significant difference in the fight against cancer, and through these efforts to spread awareness - from vital screenings to promoting healthy lifestyles - we are empowering our community with the knowledge and resources to take charge of their health. Together, we can intercept cancer and save lives."

On October 13, the Seahawks are partnering with VMFH and Safeway for a free nutrition and cancer screening event with El Centro de la Raza. At the event, Safeway's Chef Ambassador Joel Gamoran will provide a cooking demonstration using healthy foods, while Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Nutritionist Bonnie Hamilton, RDN CD, will share how maintaining a healthy diet of nutritious foods can help prevent cancer.

Recognizing the importance of a healthy diet to reduce the risk of certain cancers, VMFH will also be distributing Crucial Catch vouchers at the Seahawks' Oct. 20 game. Vouchers will be good at any Pacific Northwest Safeway location, for the purchase of fresh fruit or vegetables of up to $10. Voucher quantities are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pregame in Ticketmaster Tailgate, VMFH will be conducting on-site lung and prostate cancer screenings for ticketed fans. Lung screenings will be done via VMFH's mobile CT trailer, and prostate screenings will be done via a simple blood test. Fans interested in participating can fill out a screening form in advance. Screening forms can be found here: Lung Cancer Screening and Prostate Cancer Screening. Fans in Ticketmaster Tailgate will also be able to fill out "I Celebrate" cards, gather information about all cancer screenings, and cancer survivors will be able to ring the official Crucial Catch bell.

At halftime, the Seahawks will hold a Crucial Catch bell ringing ceremony on the field, honoring six cancer survivors representing each of the cancers that can be detected early through routine screening: breast, colon, cervical, lung, skin, & prostate.

Throughout the month of October, the Seahawks will donate 12% of the proceeds from in-store Seahawks Pro Shop purchases of official Crucial Catch gear to the Crucial Catch Fund. In partnership with VMFH, the Crucial Catch Fund will help local patients who cannot cover the incidental costs of cancer treatment. At the Crucial Catch game, $0.25 for every bottle of water purchased will be donated to the Crucial Catch Fund. Fans can also donate to the Crucial Catch Fund at Pro Shop registers or by visiting vmfh.org/CrucialCatch.

The NFL's Crucial Catch mission is to fight cancer through early detection and risk reduction. The league, its clubs, players, the NFL Players Association and the American Cancer Society are committed to providing individuals with the tools they need to help them better understand early detection and ways to reduce their cancer risk. Each year, every NFL team raises awareness during their Crucial Catch game, which features on-field and in-stadium Crucial Catch elements. Crucial Catch games also present a special opportunity to honor cancer survivors and those currently battling cancer.

For more information, visit seahawks.com/crucialcatch.

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit, one of the nation's largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people. Learn more at www.vmfh.org.