FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Nov. 11, 2026 – For Cam Bynum, this year's My Cause My Cleats initiative began with the grandparents he lost to cancer and is driven by the family waiting for him at home.
Bynum, a professional football player, will take the field in custom cleats inspired by loved ones who have been impacted by cancer, including two grandparents whose experiences helped shape his perspective on the importance of early detection and routine cancer screenings.
An extension of Parkview Health’s “Show Up for Them” campaign, Bynum is encouraging people to “Be the Screen” and is sharing a message rooted in the people who matter most: showing up for your family starts with taking care of your health.
"Family has always been at the center of everything I do," said Bynum. "The people I love have always shown up for me, and this is my way of showing up for them. If sharing my story encourages someone to schedule a screening they've been putting off, that's something meaningful."
Cancer has touched several members of Bynum's family over the years. His maternal grandfather died from pancreatic cancer, while his paternal grandmother passed away from stomach cancer just a few years ago. Their experiences, along with the impact cancer has had on loved ones in his family, inspired his choice of cause. Growing up in Corona, California, Bynum was raised in a close-knit family and spent significant time with his grandparents. His grandmother played a particularly important role in his life, helping spark his love of sneakers by often surprising him with the latest shoe releases. That connection makes this year's cleat design especially meaningful.
Designed by Alex Andrews, founder of A22 Customs and a recent Purdue University graduate, the cleats tell Bynum's story through deeply personal details. The design includes ribbons representing the cancers that claimed both grandparents, handprints and footprints from his daughter, Laila, and signatures from Bynum, his wife Lelaine, and their daughter.
Together, those elements represent both the family members he has lost and the family he hopes to be there for in the years ahead. The cleats blend personal tributes with key "Show Up for Them" campaign elements, including Parkview green and the Parkview diamond, highlighting the shared effort to encourage cancer screenings.
"As a husband and father, you think about being there for the moments that matter," Bynum said. "These cleats represent the people I love most and the reason I believe taking care of your health is so important."
While the cleats honor family members lost to cancer, they also carry a message of action. Through the “Show Up For Them” campaign, Parkview Health is encouraging individuals to prioritize recommended cancer screenings and talk with their healthcare providers about preventive care.
"One of the most powerful things about cancer screening is that it can help identify certain cancers before symptoms develop or when they're easier to treat, said Dr. Alan Yahanda, president, Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute. "If this campaign inspires someone to make an appointment they've been putting off, that's a meaningful outcome."
Bynum's custom cleats will be worn as part of the My Cause My Cleats initiative on Nov. 29, helping bring attention to the importance of early detection.
Talk with your healthcare provider about recommended cancer screenings or visit ShowUpForThem.com to learn more.
Media Availability
Cam Bynum is available for interviews regarding the My Cause My Cleats campaign, the story behind his custom cleat design and the importance of recommended cancer screenings. Please email Natalie.Russell@parkview.com.