Tanya Snyder
Credit: Washington Redskins
Q & A WITH FOUNDER, TANYA SNYDER
Q: You started the THINK-PINK! initiative in 1999 with the Zeta Tau
Alpha (ZTA) sorority to raise breast cancer awareness (before you
discovered you had beast cancer yourself). Did you ever think it would
encompass the entire NFL?
“Twenty years ago, we had no idea where THINK-PINK! would go,
honestly. We didn’t think about it and we didn’t celebrate any of
the other milestones. We just kept doing the events, connecting
with fans, and the next thing we knew, 19 years had passed and
8.5 million ribbons were handed out to fans across all 32 NFL
clubs by ZTA volunteers.”
Q: Why did you start THINK-PINK?
“I had been interested in knowing all I could about breast cancer
since being a young girl. As one of four girls in my family, the odds
were not in our favor when 1 in 8 today get diagnosed. ZTA had come
to the Redskins with this idea in 1999. We gave them the platform
and [they] embraced the work on behalf of our fans and our
community. It was one of the first community events we participated
in during Dan’s [Redskins’ owner and Tanya’s husband, Dan Snyder]
first season of ownership.”
Q: NFL players wear hot-pink gloves, wristbands and cleats and the
goal post legs are wrapped in hot-pink padding, how does it make you
feel to know you were the catalyst behind this effort?
“Every year I am so proud of all of our players who embrace this
cause. It’s their choice to wear pink gear indicating they were
affected somehow in their life and family. It’s uplifting to see the
comradery united around pink in October. Football is family. I hear
from fans who feel connected to the cause on game day when they
see so much pink.”
Q: What advice do you have for women (and men) who are
undergoing treatment for breast cancer?
“Stay positive! The mental aspect of care for yourself, or your loved
ones, as well as the physical aspect, go hand in hand. It is one of
the reasons we host women actively going through breast cancer
treatment at Redskins Park in October at our All Star Survivors
Celebration. Chris Cooley came up with the idea to affect women
positively on this day where they get pampered and interact with
players. It is one of my favorite events of the year.”
Q: What do you hope for the future of THINK-PINK!?
“Our goal is find a cure. But until then, to keep our loved ones with
us, early detection and education on breast self-exams is critical. We
will keep up the work to use our wonderful platform to remind NFL
fans how important this is.”
Q: You are the National spokesperson for the NFL’s “A Crucial Catch”
initiative as well. Can you tell us about that?
“I enjoy being able to showcase the great work the NFL is doing. It’s
been an honor and a privilege to be the national spokesperson. In all
my travels around the world, people will stop me and ask me about
our work. I see pink ribbons all over and they present them to me
from different places. I know in my heart we have made a difference,
on behalf of the entire NFL, to help survivorship.”
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about being a
cancer survivor?
“You are your own best advocate and be in tune with your body. I
cleared my annual mammogram and it wasn’t until I did a self-exam
that I found a lump myself. Please help remind family, friends, and
loved ones to Think Pink and Stay in the Loop.”
AUTUMN 2018 63 FLYWASHINGTON.COM