DeAngelo Williams's mother, Sandra Hill, died of breast cancer last May, and Hill's four sisters—Williams's aunts—all died of the disease from 1992 to 2011. Today, Williams is playing with his hair dyed pink to help raise awareness about breast cancer.
Roughly two weeks after his mother died, Williams published an essay on MMQB. An excerpt, which explains why the running back is so dedicated to the cause:
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.
So, instead of waiting for the NFL's pink apparel-fest in October, Williams went ahead and put pink in his hair. In his words, "breast cancer awareness is 365 days a year."
Williams also painted his toenails pink.
Top photo: Getty Images