SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Sacramento Kings sixth year guard De’Aaron Fox recently partnered with the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation to surprise local breast cancer survivors.

Fox and Albie Aware were joined on the surprise squad by Kaiser Permanente and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District on October 7.

“The Sacramento Kings, Kaiser Permanente, Metro Fire and Albie Aware have come together to celebrate breast cancer survivors,” said Courtney Quinn, breast cancer survivor and executive director of Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation. “Also, we are creating awareness as many individuals missed their breast cancer screenings throughout the pandemic and Albie Aware is here to provide this support in the greater Sacramento area.”

According to Albie Aware, Sacramento County has a higher death rate due to breast cancer than state and national averages. Additionally, the county did not reach its Healthy People 2020 goals for mammograms in the past two years for women ages 50-74.

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“A cancer diagnosis can be life-changing for so many, and Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento is committed to providing our patients with high-quality, compassionate care,” said Claudia De Young, MD, an internal medicine physician at the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, who also runs the breast clinic and breast cancer survivorship program. “We are proud to partner with Albie Aware as we our support our patients on their breast cancer journey, and provide them with this joyful, fun experience.”

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Fox and the crew surprised breast cancer survivors with tickets to the Kings Breast Health Awareness game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 14. Fox arrived on the scene in Metro Fire’s Cancer Engine, which was covered in pink and blue to raise awareness of breast and prostate cancer.

“We are honored and proud to work alongside the Sacramento Kings and Albie Aware to honor these breast cancer survivors,” said Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Parker Wilbourn. “The Sacramento Metro Fire Cancer Engine is a 46,000-pound billboard traveling throughout Sacramento County raising awareness and reminding everyone to get their breast and prostate cancer screenings.”

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Breast cancer is a personal subject for Fox, whose mother Lorraine was diagnosed with the disease in 2000 when he was only 2 years old. Now today, Lorraine is celebrating over 20 years as a survivor and her son is making a significant impact in his community both on and off the court.

“It’s great to be out here, just to see all of these smiling faces,” Fox said Friday. “Not only the moms, but the kids, the husbands – everyone who is out here to support them. It’s definitely a great day.”

Inspired by his mom’s perseverance, De’Aaron and his family established the Fox Whole Family Foundation to help women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer and to strengthen the leadership skills of underprivileged youth. Albie Aware and Fox’s foundation have partnered to provide financial assistance to individuals dealing with breast cancer across the greater Sacramento region.

To learn more about both foundations, visit albieaware.org and deaaronfox5.com/fox-whole-family-foundation.