Dear Coach,

On behalf of the NFL and the American Cancer Society, I invite you to join me in supporting A Crucial Catch, a national breast cancer campaign to educate and screen women across the country. Since 2009, NFL coaches and players have worn pink hats, gloves, pins and cleats each October in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this has helped raise nearly $7 million for the American Cancer Society.

We are once again asking youth and high school football coaches across the country to join in a unified stance with NFL coaches to help finish the fight against breast cancer. Participating in A Crucial Catch is fun, and it teaches players and other students in your school valuable charitable and character-building lessons as well.  It’s also easy.

Step 1: Register to participate at cancer.org/acrucialcatch and download the 2014 A Crucial Catch youth and high school toolkit. Here you will find specific information on how you, your team and your fans can participate and raise funds in support of the American Cancer Society's mission to make this breast cancer's last century.

Step 2: Develop your game plan and raise funds to beat breast cancer. Designate any home date as A Crucial Catch Game Day, and recruit others in your school to get involved. Your American Cancer Society staff partner will provide tips and resources to help make your game a success. Call (800) 227-2345 to get connected.

Step 3: After your game, turn in all donations and the post-event reporting form to the American Cancer Society. Teams raising $1,000 or more by Dec. 1 will be recognized on nfl.com/pink. Other incentives for reaching certain fundraising levels include a certificate of appreciation from the NFL and an official NFL A Crucial Catch football.

We encourage you, as a leader in your community, to recruit your players, parents and fans to join us in supporting A Crucial Catch this fall. Because silence won't finish the fight against breast cancer – action will. To learn more and sign up your team, please visit cancer.org/acrucialcatch.

For more information, visit nfl.com/pink or contact us at acrucialcatch@cancer.org.

Thank you for helping the American Cancer Society save more lives and finish the fight against breast cancer.

Sincerely,

Andy Reid

Head coach, Kansas City Chiefs