EAGAN, Minn. — Tracy Jones Anderson has seen firsthand the way cancer can impact a family.
She also has seen the strides in early detection and cancer treatment over the years through organizations like the American Cancer Society and initiatives like the NFL's Crucial Catch program.
Anderson was one of 16 women hosted Oct. 21 by Vikings fullback C.J. Ham and his wife Stephanie, who teamed up with the Vikings, the American Cancer Society and Sleep Number for the fourth annual Pamper Her Purple event.
Held at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, Pamper Her Purple provided those 16 women – many of whom are cancer survivors, and a few who are currently battling – with a full day of spa services and relaxation. The unique event is held by the Hams in honor of C.J.'s late mother Tina, who passed away in 2021 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Anderson is a thyroid cancer survivor, having undergone surgery and treatment to become cancer-free in 2022. She also has lost both of her parents – her mother to lung cancer in the late '90s and her father to prostate cancer several years later.
Having been 30 years old when her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, Anderson deeply resonates with the grief Ham experienced throughout Tina's diagnosis and 14-month battle. She also understands how healing it can be as caregivers and loved ones to honor that individual's memory through giving back to the cancer community.
"It's a very sad time when you lose that person," said Anderson, who regularly volunteers with ACS. "And when you have time to catch your breath [from that grief], you realize that, 'You know what? This is exactly what she would want me to do.' [My mother] was very active in the community, and she would have always been the first one to do events like this."
Anderson and the other 15 women, along with their guests, were warmly welcomed to the event's cocktail and dinner portion by C.J. and Steph, Vikings Chief Operating Officer Andrew Miller and Vikings Legend Anthony Bass, who now serves as Vice President, Major Mkt/Reg. Development at ACS.
"It's a blessing to be here in a room full of such strong people. People who chose to fight, who choose to fight every single day. It's truly a blessing. You guys may be fans of the Vikings, but I am truly fans of you – and everything you all have done," Ham said. "Many of you know my story with cancer. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer about four-and-a-half years ago. She had a long fight – a longer fight than a lot of people anticipated. They gave her probably about two to three months, and she ended up living for 14 months. We were able to experience tremendous things as a family, moments that we will never, ever forget.
"As a family member of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, you get to see that fight right in front of you," Ham continued. "You see how hard it is; it was a hard fight for my mom. She wasn't healed physically on this earth, but she was healed spiritually and she's now with our Father in Heaven – that's what I believe.
"After seeing [her fight], I get to say that she was the strongest individual I've ever seen," he added. "And I know there are so many women in this room who decided to do the same thing – to be the strongest [women they can be]."
Vikings fullback C.J. Ham and his wife Stephanie teamed up with the Vikings, the American Cancer Society and Sleep Number for the fourth annual Pamper Her Purple event at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel.
Miller, whose father battled prostate cancer and eventually passed away from lymphoma, shares the Ham family's passion for cancer awareness and research.
"We're so excited to have hosted you throughout the day – all of you incredible, inspiring, brave women who have joined us," Miller said. "[The] game against the Lions was our Crucial Catch game … and it's one of the proudest moments we have as an organization.
"Many of you were able to attend the game," he added, "and we really appreciate you taking the time out of your weekend to come join us and to build the message of hope with us."
Miller specifically noted Vikings Manager of Business Strategy Jen Tomashek, who is currently fighting breast cancer, was among the 16 Pamper Her Purple honorees and had sounded the Gjallarhorn to kick off the Vikings Crucial Catch game.
Miller expressed a heartfelt message of support for Tomashek and gifted her with the NFL Crucial Catch coin used for the coin toss.
Bass shared a message reflecting admiration similar to Ham and Miller, as well as encouraging everyone to continue supporting ACS' efforts.
"We do believe this mission is working, as you can see from the lovely people we have with us today. Thank you for not giving up," Bass said. "Cancer is something that impacts everybody, and we're now starting to get a better handle on it – because of our research and also advocacy, patient support. We're doing great work in a way that's comprehensive.
"The people who are here today are indicative and evidence that this work we're doing is actually bringing about some change," Bass added. "You're the ones who inspire us. Thank you for being here today. You caregivers … you are inspiring us. Thank you for what you've done, what you continue to do. Thank you to the Minnesota Vikings, thank you to Sleep Number and thank you to everybody for continuing to help us fight this fight so that everyone can be free of cancer."
In addition to their spa day and dinner, attendees also received cozy blankets donated by Sleep Number, custom slippers and Crucial Catch gear.
Sleep Number's Lindsey Schumer emphasized how meaningful the day is each year.
"Pamper Her Purple has been such an incredible opportunity for Sleep Number as an official Crucial Catch sponsor with the NFL and then being a partner with the Vikings – coming together with ACS, the Vikings and C.J. to honor these women and given them a day of pampering they so very much deserve," she said. "It's so impactful. A lot of times you see the players out there on the field and might not think you have anything in common with them.
"But I know in talking to some of the women who heard C.J.'s story, heard how much he believes in them, it makes such a big difference," Schumer added. "Spending this time with him and hearing his story and how authentic he is and how much he cares about cancer prevention and finding a cure is just so powerful."
The entirety of the Pamper Her Purple event was emotional for Anderson, who described how cancer has so heavily impacted her and her sister's lives for multiple decades.
Anderson explained how cancer resources and treatment plans were much more limited at the time of her mother's late-stage diagnosis, and so she lived a very short time after the initial discovery.
"And then we had several years where my dad was living alone and seemingly doing fine, and then he was diagnosed with cancer, as well," Anderson said. "It was slow-growing in the beginning, but then it spread. So then I had that other experience of my second parent, a little bit different of an experience.
"Both are hard, because in the first case, you don't have much time to do anything but react," she added. "And then the second case, you're doing a little more comfort care, a little more planning, a little more palliative, and you have a little more time to make a plan for you and the rest of the family. But it's still very difficult."
Anderson's gratitude toward ACS, the Ham family, the Vikings and Sleep Number was evident as she gestured around the room to women of various ages connecting with one another and sharing their stories.
"I'm so inspired by all of the people here tonight," Anderson said.
Throughout the day, bonding over shared difficult experiences created authentic community for Anderson, the attendees, their guests and also the hosts.
"It truly means so much for me to stand here with you guys – I can't say that enough," an emotional Ham said. "This is a day for y'all. My mom loved to be pampered. It was her favorite thing. To go and get her nails done, to get a massage, get her hair done. Whatever it was, she loved to be pampered. I hope today you got to let your hair down, take your shoes off and just enjoy the moment.
"Just remember that God loves you, Jesus loves you," he added. "Continue to fight every single day. And know that we are going to beat this terrible disease called cancer."