As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women today, as well as the second leading cause of death in cancer patients (the first being lung cancer). Becoming aware of this disease and obtaining correct information will help individuals detect cancer sooner and increase the amount of survivors in this nation. Although women are the most common gender to be diagnosed with breast cancer, there are cases where men carry this disease. Early detection through a mammography is key to the overwhelming breast cancer survivor rate: over 2.5 million.

People are fighting breast cancer around the world by walking, also called “Making Strides.” According to the American Cancer Society, “Since 1993, nearly 7 million walkers have raised more than $400 million. In 2010 alone, more than 800,000 walkers across the country collected $60 million to save lives from breast cancer.” To learn more about breast cancer, including different types, stages, facts and resources, please review the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website: http://www.nbcam.org/ or the official site of the American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, http://ww5.komen.org/, is another leading organization focused on ending breast cancer for good. While fighting breast cancer herself, Susan G. Komen spent most of her time thinking of ways to better improve the lives of women battling the disease. Nancy G. Brinker carried on this devotion even after her sister’s passing. Over $1.9 billion has been invested into the Susan G. Komen foundation since 1982. Susan G. Komen is now “the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.”

Many organizations have teamed up with the American Cancer Society to raise money for breast cancer treatment. The NFL has partnered with the American Cancer Society to promote the importance of annual mammogram screenings for women over 40 to prevent breast cancer and created “A Crucial Catch” campaign to help in the cause. Join your NFL or NCAA football team in the effort when you shop Pink Shirts, Hats, Jewelry, Pink Ribbon Polo Shirts and Jackets, as well as “A Crucial Catch” merchandise.  A percentage of the proceeds from every Breast Cancer product sold will go toward finding a cure.

Shop Breast Cancer Awareness Apparel

To the nursing assistants out there that dedicate their lives to the well being of others, we celebrate you on June 16th, National Nursing Assistants Day. The annual observance of the day is a special time to recognize the efforts and commitments of nurse assistants. Honor the special one in your life with scrubs from Fanatics.com featuring their favorite team logo and colors.

Flowers, balloons, and brunch are all great ways to show mom appreciation. But for a mom that loves sports, you may have to do a little extra. Here are five ways to honor your sports fanatic mom on May 8th and the rest of the month.

1. Show her she’s the MVP – frame a picture of her with the kids and give a presentation about how great she is.
2. Surprise her with game tickets – reserve seats for her favorite team and reveal the secret in her card.
3. Have a family game of hoops at the park – after the game, lay out on a blanket and enjoy a picnic.
4. Give her the “best seat in the house” – give up the plush recliner AND remote. As she tunes in to the NBA and NHL playoffs, you can cook and clean.
5. Get her some stylish team gear – the best way to do this is with a gift certificate to Fanatics. They’re delivered within hours, and it’s a sure way you’ll get the perfect gift!

Wishing all the moms a FANtastic Mother’s Day from Fanatics.

Congrats to the MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, Super Bowl XLV champions. Going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to be no competition for the Green and Yellow, who scored their first three touchdowns off of interceptions from starting QB Ben Roethlisberger. The team kept the lead throughout, winning with a final score of 25-31.

Pack fans, celebrate your team’s championship as they bring home the Lombardi trophy. Official championship gear and merchandise is now available. Shop the 2011 collection including t-shirts, hats, banners, hoodies, watches, and more now available at Football Fanatics, and be the first to brag about your team’s huge victory.

Although it’s extremely hot during the summer months in Florida, it is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s the perfect time to travel across the country, catch up on home improvement projects, read a great book, and get together with friends and family to cookout. But before you start rolling the grill out, here are a few tips and ideas on how to host the best summer cookout ever.

1. Choose a theme. Having a themed cookout is always fun and it makes things easier. Set the mood with custom invitations and carry it throughout the entire get together. Having a luau? Be sure to encourage your guests to strap on their coconut bras and grass skirts. Or download the Best of the 80′s hits, have a “Big Hair” contest, and go with an 80′s themed party instead.

2. Plan a menu. Since it is a cookout, your menu should consist of food that tends to be prepared outdoors on a grill. Burgers and hot dogs are perfect for a Patriotic Stars and Stripes theme, but for a festive Fiesta theme, impress your guests with yummy chicken and steak fajitas. Serve signature drinks like Shirley Temples, fruity daiquiris, or more creative cocktails if you’re planning an island-inspired casino cookout.

3. Create a great setup. Having your guests RSVP is important. It allows you to know how much food to prepare as well as how many place settings you need. If you don’t have enough space for everyone to sit and eat at the same time, make the party very informal by setting the food out buffet-style, and arranging conversation sitting areas.

4. Party! As guests begin to arrive, get the party going with music and appetizers. Plan at least one activity that engages everyone. An icebreaker that ties with the theme would work best.

There you have it. Four simple tips and tricks to pulling off the summer’s best cookout.

Got more helpful ideas? Feel free to share with us!

It’s here! The sport known as America’s best pastime had its first pitch of the season this week. For all baseball fans I think you would agree there is at least one great moment that can associate with being a fan. In this month’s Huddle Up issue, we asked our Fanatics Rewards Club members to share with us their best moments of the game and this is what they had to say…

Moises D. – One of the best moment(s) of my life is to be with my nephew, Steven, at the Citi Field Stadium in NYC. Mariano Rivera, won the 500th Career Save on Sunday, June 28, 2009 against the New York Mets. We were invited by our friend Mariano R. and family to attend this great game and unforgettable accomplishment.

Jim B. – Right after the pirates played the Cardinals on September 5, 1998 my wife and I along with 8 other couples were married in a group ceremony the ladies all wearing wedding gowns, the guys in tuxedos (I wore my authentic pirates hat). We bought 83 tickets and rented a greyhound bus taking about 45, the rest drove their cars. A huge fireworks display (happened) right after the group wedding. We were spread out from 1st to 3rd bases with the Justice of the Peace on the pitcher’s mount. The Pirates paid for our tux rentals, 50% of the gowns, and gave $3 off each ticket plus a video of the ceremony, along with several 5×8 pictures and flowers for the ladies. One of the couples were renewing their vows on their 50th anniversary.

James T. – My best Baseball moment was in 1992. The Atlanta Braves were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates in game 7 of the National League Championship Series and Sid Bream slid in home with the winning run sending the Braves to the ’92 World Series. After that the Braves were a powerhouse and won the World Series in 1995.

Make memories this year with the best of the best MLB gear!

One of my favorite memories as a kid is of attending a World Cup soccer game in Orlando with my dad. It was so exciting to see so many fans from all over the world gather in the Citrus Bowl to cheer passionately for their favorite team and players. The passionate soccer fan spectrum ranges from the flag wielding, face painted hard core easily as excited as he is angered fan, to the kids with hot dogs happy to see their idols kicking the ball around in person, to the older fans crying at the loss of their country’s team. I’ve attended many professional sports game and nothing can hold a torch to the feeling in that stadium on that day.

Soccer has never held the attention in the United States that it has in other countries, but we now have the chance to bring it back in 2018 and 2022. If your city is on the short list of 27 cities still in the running to have the honor of hosting the World Cup, you can give it a nudge by signing this petition here.

If it’s not, maybe you can be persuaded to put in a vote for mine – Jacksonville.