National Blood Clot Alliance Chosen as NFL My Cause My Cleats Campaign Charity
The National Blood Clot Alliance is honored to announce that Leon Jacobs, linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has selected the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) as the nonprofit organization he is supporting for this year’s NFL My Cause My Cleats campaign.
“I chose to represent the National Blood Clot Alliance through the My Cause My Cleats campaign because my grandmother was impacted by blood clots,” says Jacobs. “With my cleats, I hope to bring awareness and educate others on blood clot prevention and treatment.”
As part of a collaboration with the league, NFL players will be wearing their hearts on their feet this week, as part of the annual NFL My Cause My Cleats initiative, which involves hundreds of NFL players who select a charity organization to support, have cleats specially designed to represent that cause, and then unveil and promote their cleats on social media and during the NFL’s Week 14 on-field matchups.
NBCA: Playing Offense and Defense against Blood Clots
For more than 15 years, NBCA has been on the front lines battling the impact of life-threatening blood clots, which affect people from all walks of life. Today, NBCA is urging football fans and members of the public alike to support Leon Jacobs’ commitment to the mission of the National Blood Clot Alliance by:
- Thanking Jacobs on social media for his support of this important cause, using the hashtag #mycausemycleats, and tagging the National Blood Clot Alliance (@stoptheclot) so the public’s social posts can be shared. Jacobs can be tagged on Instagram as @leondroj.
- Amplifying NBCA’s effort to help educate the public about dangerous blood clots by making a donation to support our mission here.
- Watching Jacobs’ game this coming Sunday, December 8, 2:05 pm, ET, as the Jacksonville Jaguars face off against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“As a volunteer with the National Blood Clot Alliance and a blood clot survivor, I know firsthand the life-changing impact blood clots have on a person, and it’s wonderful to see this type of honor granted to our organization,” says Mimi MacKinnon, vice chair of NBCA’s Board of Directors. “As an employee of the National Football League, I also know how effective the My Cause My Cleats campaign is in reaching people about important issues like this, and want to extend NBCA’s appreciation to the league, the Jaguars, and Leon Jacobs for their support of our organization’s life-saving mission.”
Tackling the Public Health Burden of Blood Clots
The public health burden of blood clots is staggering: On average, one person in the United States dies of a blood clot every six minutes, and there exists a spectrum of risk factors associated with blood clots, including, for example, hospitalization and surgery, cancer and its treatments, pregnancy and childbirth, and the use of hormonal birth control and/or estrogen therapy.
Any one factor or combination of different factors like these can increase the risk that a blood clot may form in the deep veins of a person’s arms or legs. A blood clot that forms in a person’s arms or legs can grow or break off and travel to a person’s lung, where it can be deadly.
Tragically, too many lives are affected, and too many lives are lost due to blood clots:
- About 900,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with blood clots each year.
- Up to 100,000 people in this country die due to blood clots every year, which is greater than the number of people who die due to AIDS, breast cancer, and motor vehicle crashes combined.
- Sudden death is the first symptom in about 25 percent of people who lose their life to a blood clot in their lung.
A Winning Game Plan: Increase Public Awareness
Awareness of blood clot risk factors and blood clot signs and symptoms is a crucial step in turning back the impact of this public health challenge, which costs in the range or $2 to $10 billion to treat annually in the United States. Learn more about blood clot risks here and blood clot signs and symptoms here. Learn more about the programs and services of NBCA here.
Mission and Work of NBCA
NBCA is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis, and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots. NBCA works on behalf of people who may be susceptible to blood clots, including, but not limited to, people with clotting disorders, atrial fibrillation, cancer, traumatic injury, and risks related to surgery, lengthy immobility, child birth, and hormonal birth control. NBCA accomplishes its mission through programs that build public awareness, educate patients and healthcare professionals, and promote supportive public and private sector policy.
Learn more about the NFL My Cause My Cleats campaign here.
For more information, contact NBCA at info@stoptheclot.org.
