Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has raised more than $45,000 for cancer research through a charity bowling event, while giving a young fan undergoing treatment an experience she is unlikely to forget.
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she → raise → experience
The NFL star and his JJets Foundation hosted the inaugural “Strike Out Cancer” fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ACS), bringing together cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and Vikings teammates.
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star → host → patients
According to announcements published by the Minnesota Vikings on October 6 and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on October 9, 2026, Jefferson also surprised seven-year-old Claire Van Epps, who has been undergoing treatment for Ewing sarcoma, with two tickets to Super Bowl LXI.
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who → accord → LXI
The event raised funds for cancer research and support services while giving 25 cancer patients, survivors and caregivers an opportunity to meet Jefferson and spend time with the football star.
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event → raise → star
The evening included bowling, games and a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, including signed helmets, game-worn cleats and a Randy Moss jersey.
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evening → include → helmets
Jefferson was joined by his older brother, Jordan, and Vikings teammates Aaron Jones Sr.,
Andrew DePaola and Johnny Hekker.
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Jefferson → join → DePaola
The gathering also marked an important step for the JJets Foundation, whose work Jefferson described as a family effort shaped by personal experiences with cancer.
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Jefferson → mark → cancer
Seven-year-old fan receives Super Bowl surprise
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fan → receive → surprise
Among the guests was Claire Van Epps, a young Vikings supporter whose cancer journey has been marked by remission and relapse.
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journey → mark → remission
According to the team's report, Claire was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in 2023.
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Claire → accord → 2023
She initially entered remission but experienced a relapse shortly before Christmas in 2025.
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She → enter → 2025
Claire is currently undergoing oral chemotherapy.
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Claire → undergo → chemotherapy
Despite the challenges of treatment, the Vikings described her as a cheerful child who loves watching the team and was thrilled to meet her favourite player in person.
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who → describe → person
Jefferson spent time talking with Claire, encouraging her and posing for photographs.
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Jefferson → spend → photographs
The wide receiver said he had seen pictures of the young fan wearing his jersey while undergoing cancer treatment and found it inspiring that she looked up to him.
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she → say → him
The evening became even more memorable when Claire's family won a football autographed by Jefferson through a raffle.
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family → become → raffle
The player then called her to the front of the room and presented her with oversized tickets to Super Bowl LXI, scheduled for February 2027.
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player → call → February
The surprise prompted cheers from the crowd, while Claire and her parents reacted with excitement.
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Claire → prompt → excitement
The tickets offered the young fan an opportunity to watch one of American football's biggest events alongside her family.
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tickets → offer → family
The gesture was part of a wider effort to connect with people whose lives have been affected by cancer.
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lives → connect → cancer
For Jefferson, the event was an opportunity to listen to their experiences, recognise their challenges and use his public profile to draw attention to the disease.
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event → listen → disease
More than $45,000 raised for cancer research
The NFLPA named Jefferson its Week 5 Community MVP on October 9 in recognition of the fundraiser and his broader charitable work.
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NFLPA → raise → fundraiser
The organisation confirmed that the bowling event raised more than $45,000 for the American Cancer Society to support cancer research.
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event → confirm → research
The ACS works to advance cancer research, improve patient outcomes, advocate for people affected by the disease and help patients access care.
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patients → work → care
Angie Rolle, the organisation's senior vice-president for partner engagement, told the Vikings that money raised through the event would support research breakthroughs, improved treatments and efforts to make care more affordable.
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care → tell → breakthroughs
Jefferson has also taken on the role of an American Cancer Society ambassador, helping raise awareness about cancer and the experiences of patients and survivors.
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Jefferson → take → patients
The fundraiser included a silent auction featuring an LSU helmet, a Vikings helmet and Jefferson's signed game-worn cleats.
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fundraiser → include → helmet
A signed Randy Moss jersey was among the other items available to bidders.
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jersey → sign → bidders
The NFLPA also announced a $10,000 donation to the JJets Foundation following Jefferson's selection as Community MVP.
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NFLPA → announce → MVP
The award recognises NFL players who make significant contributions to their communities away from the field.
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who → recognise → field
A wider commitment to community work
Since joining the Vikings in 2020, Jefferson has supported several community initiatives in Minnesota and his home state of Louisiana.
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Jefferson → join → Louisiana
According to the NFLPA, the JJets Foundation has reached more than 1,500 children through programmes that include youth football camps, school laptop donations and holiday initiatives.
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that → accord → camps
Jefferson has also supported young cancer patients.
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Jefferson → support → patients
In September 2026, he surprised two children from Children's Minnesota, Ada and Arthur, with personalised shoes inspired by his own Crucial Catch cleats.
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he → surprise → cleats
Ada had been treated for Wilms cancer and was declared in remission in July 2024, while Arthur had been diagnosed with B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and experienced substantial vision loss during treatment.
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Arthur → treat → treatment
The shoes were customised to reflect the children's experiences, including Arthur's name written in Braille.
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shoes → customise → Braille
Jefferson also spent time with them at the Vikings' training facility, where they received team merchandise and watched practice.
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they → spend → practice
The initiatives coincide with the NFL's Crucial Catch campaign, which promotes cancer awareness and encourages early detection.
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which → coincide → detection
Jefferson's role as an ACS ambassador has added another dimension to his community outreach, allowing him to connect with families dealing with the disease.
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him → add → disease
For Claire and her family, the bowling night offered a moment of celebration amid an ongoing medical journey.
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night → offer → journey
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
