Justin Jefferson is one of the NFL's best at pulling down highlight-reel catches; now, he's helping raise awareness for catching cancer.

Jefferson is honored to add American Cancer Society Ambassador to his impressive résumé in Purple, and this year's Crucial Catch initiative holds even greater meaning for the Vikings phenom receiver.

Last month, Jefferson surprised two young cancer survivors, Ada and Arthur, from Children's Minnesota with custom-painted shoes that matched Jefferson's custom Crucial Catch cleats.

While the youngsters tried on their sneakers in TCO Studios, Jefferson — who happens to be Ada's favorite player — snuck in to join them.

"Hey, what's up?" Jefferson greeted, laughing at Ada and Arthur's shocked expressions. "I just had to come in here and check out y'all's kicks!"

He offered a sneak peek at his hot-pink cleats, showing Ada where her name was painted on the side panel of one. Ada was diagnosed in 2023 with Stage 4 Wilms cancer that had spread from her kidneys to her lungs and lymph nodes. After undergoing surgery and treatment, she was declared in remission in July 2024.

Jefferson took special care alongside 8-year-old Arthur, who was diagnosed three years ago with B-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma and lost all but 5-10% of his vision over two-and-a-half years of grueling treatment.

"Hey man, it's Justin here," Jefferson said, gently laying a hand on Arthur's shoulder and placing the other cleat in the young fan's open palm. "What do you feel there? Check it out."

Arthur ran his fingers deftly across the cleat's surface, stopping over the toe and breaking into a wide grin.

"There's Braille on here!" Arthur exclaimed.

The special touch on Jefferson's shoe, Arthur's name written in the raised bumps of Braille, means the world not only to Arthur but to his parents.

"I don't even really have the words for it, but I was so impressed with just how natural Justin stepped in with Arthur's vision loss, explaining what's in front of him and talking through all that," Bridget Enselein said. "It was almost like he's been doing it much more than just today."

Jefferson joined Ada and Arthur, who also watched a portion of the Vikings practice and broke down the team huddle, in exploring personalized lockers that were set up for the pair. Arthur and Ada excitedly donned Purple jerseys and pulled out hoodies, T-shirts, Vikings footballs, pink Crucial Catch gloves and more.

"Having people recognize Ada for being a cancer survivor is really special," her mother Mandy said, "and then the fact it's the Minnesota Vikings recognizing her? That's pretty cool."

Matt Ritz, Ada's father, emphasized how much it meant to see Jefferson take time out of his day to spend with the young fans.

"He's obviously really good with kids," Matt said. "I thought this was really awesome of him."

Jefferson held out a large Norseman necklace for Arthur to feel before lifting it over Arthur's head and resting it on his shoulders.

"Here, you've gotta have the chain," Jefferson quipped. "Let me put that on you. Gotta have it. You got some drip, man. You've got more than I have, I think."

Arthur's father Eric later commented on not only the time with Jefferson but on the day overall, including meeting Vikings Head Coach O'Connell and personal conversations with Levi Drake Rodriguez and Aaron Jones, Sr.

"Arthur likes to tell himself he's a shy kid, but he is very much adventurous and loves to explore," Eric proudly said. "As open as the Vikings have been has been incredible. We didn't know what to expect coming into this … so to have Arthur experience things like this has been really cool."

"Justin seemed genuinely excited, which I think is unique when you run into somebody of his talent level," Bridget added. "He's just a person first. He totally is — and then he's also very, very good at his job."

Jefferson later reflected on the intimate interaction with Ada and Arthur, who attended Sunday's game with their families.

"It's a great feeling. It's cool to see their reactions, see their smiles, the things they react to more than others," Jefferson said. "Especially for Arthur, not being able to see, not being able to visually be present, I can only imagine how difficult that is. So for me to touch him, for him to hear my voice, to feel the cleats, that was so cool. And for me to be a part of that is unreal. It's a blessing."

JJets Foundation Strikes Out Cancer

For Jefferson and his entire family, there was no better way to kick off the JJets Foundation than by hitting the lanes for a cause close to their hearts.

The Jeffersons hosted a "Strike Out Cancer" event last week to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. Attendees had the opportunity to meet Jefferson and bowl with Vikings teammates Aaron Jones, Sr., Andrew DePaola and Johnny Hekker. They also perused and bid on silent auction items that included an LSU helmet, Vikings helmet and game-worn cleats autographed by Justin, a signed Randy Moss jersey and other memorabilia.

Justin and his older brother Jordan welcomed guests for the evening and emphasized their hearts for those impacted by cancer, including their grandmother and other loved ones.

"The JJets foundation has definitely been something we've been working on for a long time," Justin told Vikings.com, "and to be able to put on an event like this and to put some smiles on people's faces, create awareness and to hear people's stories, it's been very impactful, very inspiring.

"Seeing how much cancer has impacted so many different people is crazy," he added. "So to be here today and to share light with some of them, it's been amazing."

Though Justin's name is on the foundation, its efforts and mission really are a whole family affair.

"Family is the most important thing, especially when things get tough," Justin said. "They're the people you lean on the most, the people who show you love and affection. My family has been in my corner ever since I was a little kid, supported me in all the different things that I've done … so having that support system is our main focus, and having my family here, some of the guys from the team here, it's been really great."

Jordan highlighted the even deeper closeness that comes from putting together an event to make a difference in the lives of others. And as an older brother, he's proud of the work Justin has done in and around the Minnesota community since being drafted in 2020.

This just takes it to the next level.

"In order for you to receive, you have to be a giver — and Justin's a very giving person," Jordan said. "He cares about the people who love and support him. Obviously so many kids buy his jersey, they show up to U.S. Bank Stadium, they want to do 'The Griddy' with him. We want to find small ways to connect with all our fans and express that human version of who we are.

"Football players, it's hard to personally understand who they are [sometimes] because they hide behind their helmets," Jordan continued. "But once you take off that helmet, take off the jersey and the shoulder pads, you can get to know some of these players. Justin is one a lot of people would like to know, would like to understand and have an opportunity to [spend time] with, so having an event like this is a prime opportunity … to support him in a lot of ways outside of being a football player."

Among those who had the chance to connect with Justin were 7-year-old Claire Van Epps and her parents. Claire was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma in 2023 and eventually entered remission but relapsed just before Christmas last year. Though she's been through so much and currently is undergoing an oral chemo treatment, Claire is a bubbly, happy child who loves to watch the Vikings and was thrilled to meet Justin in-person.

"She wasn't as shy as a lot of kids are," he quipped. "She was talking and smiling, and just to see how much of a fan she is of me — it's been really crazy to see all the different pictures of her wearing my jersey while she was going through cancer treatments. It's very inspiring to see a little girl like that looking up to someone like me, and all I do is play football.

"It's hard to see the things, especially a little kid like her, can go through, and it can be really, really tough if they don't truly understand what's going on," Justin said. "So it's great for her to be here, have a smile on her face and have all that long hair now [after losing it previously]."

Justin spent time connecting with Claire and encouraging her, then lifted her into his arms for a hug and a photo — much to the young fan's delight.

The evening's excitement for Claire wasn't over, however, as her family's raffle ticket was drawn to win a football autographed by Justin. And then, the biggest surprise: Claire was called to the front of the room by her favorite player and presented with larger-than-life tickets to Super Bowl LXI.

Shocked expressions by Claire's parents matched her own as she enthusiastically posed for another photo, and smiles and cheers reverberated through the bowling alley.

ACS Senior Vice President for Partner Engagement Angie Rolle expressed gratitude to the JJets Foundation for helping raise money for cancer patients like Claire and their families. She noted that all money raised during the Strike Out Cancer event will go toward funding breakthroughs and research, "bringing more discovery to treatment and improving outcomes, helping advocate for patients and making sure they can afford their care."

Rolle called it a "game changer" to have Justin serving as an ACS Ambassador.

"People look up to Justin," she said. "For him to take the time to understand what stories people have, the experiences they may have lived through, it just really means a lot to not only people who have gone through a personal journey, but people who eventually may be impacted by cancer.

"Cancer is a disease that does not discriminate," Rolle said. "It's important that we come together as a community, and that's what this event is all about. It's coming together, leaning on one another, sharing our stories and finding ways we can support."

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