DeAngelo Williams has honored his late mother Sandra Hill by dying his hair pink for the opening game against Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Carolina Panthers running back dyed his dreadlocks pink and also painted his toenails in the color.
Hill died in May after a battle with breast cancer.
Panthers RB @DeAngeloRB has dyed his hair pink in honor of his mom, Sandra Hill, who lost breast cancer battle in May pic.twitter.com/GdpMbGlOIY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2014
As part of his ongoing effort to raise awareness for breast cancer, @DeAngeloRB has also painted his toenails pink. pic.twitter.com/mFWRGdmrQD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2014
Williams hasn’t really discussed the death except for a first-person piece in May.
He said that breast cancer runs in the family, as several other relatives have died from it.
“Breast cancer, whether I like it or not, is part of my family’s story. That’s why I am so passionate about raising awareness, because I have seen firsthand how it can impact others. One time, a lady came up to me and said she was going to get examined just because she saw me wearing pink cleats during a game. I walked away thinking, Wow, pink is really so much more than just a color. It’s a lifesaver. It’s awareness. If we reach one, we reach millions. If we reach millions, we’re doing our job and getting closer to finding a cure,” he said.
Williams also paid tribute to his late mother.
“Sandra Kay Hill is the biggest reason I’ve been able to enjoy eight NFL seasons, going on nine with the Panthers. My two sisters—Kinya, 34, and Garlanda, 26—and I can trace all of our personal and professional successes back to her love and support growing up in Wynne, Arkansas. The byline on this column reads DeAngelo Williams, but these aren’t my words alone. Everything I say here is an extension of her voice, her strength and her courage.”
