By Jenn Boehm -- Every minute of every day cancer claims the life of an American: a husband, a mother, a best friend. Last year, more than seven million people worldwide lost their lives to the disease. That figure is expected to rise to 17.5 million by 2050.

“There are millions of people dying from cancer all the time. If we could research more, it wouldn’t be such a mystery,” said Tara Skaggs, wife of former Utah Blaze WR/DB Justin Skaggs, who passed away a few weeks after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor last June. “It could save lives.”

“I am over the shock,” Justin told then-Blaze PR director Tom Goodhines shortly after his diagnosis in 2007. “I am ready to talk (to the media). I want to do what I can to help raise awareness to this condition. If I can help somebody else, then that is what I want to do.”

Because of the Skaggs family and so many like them, the AFL, ESPN and The V Foundation for Cancer Research have teamed up to tackle cancer with the inaugural AFL V Week, an initiative to raise awareness and donations for cancer research. In a league-wide commitment, teams will further volunteer their time through community outreach programs and gather funds through individual giving and autographed memorabilia auctions for cancer research, while encouraging fans and the public in general to join the fight.

Donations can be made by calling 800-4JIMMYV (454-6698) or by going online to The V Foundation’s Web site, http://www.jimmyv.org/.

Orlando QB Shane Stafford has a strong desire to help those still battling the disease. After losing his best friend, Paul Worcheck, to leukemia during high school, he vowed to keep the memory of his friend alive. To that, Stafford has spent countless hours over the last three years volunteering with the Children’s Cancer Center, a nonprofit organization that offers support to cancer and blood disorder patients and their families, located in Tampa, Fla. He continues to dedicate as much of his time as is possible despite living in Orlando during the season.

“The things they have to go through with chemo and then the steroids, they get really sick. They’re trying to explain to these kids that this chemo will help you, but every time they get it, their little bodies break down,” Stafford said. “It’s real tough for these kids. But the thing about the center that’s so good for them is that they see other kids that are just like them. They realize, okay, this isn’t so odd after all; there are other kids like me. And families talk to other families, about what they’re dealing with how it’s affecting their lives, marriages, everything. It not only helps the child, but it’s a lot of help for the families and siblings, too.”

“Maybe (I can) put a smile on somebody’s face, on just one of these kids’ faces, whether it’s for a day or month or a year,” he added.

Players around the league are hoping to do just that...and then some:

• Chicago Rush kicker Dan Frantz spent his off day this week visiting patients at the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital of Loyola Medicine in Maywood.

• New York DL Jason Hardee and WR Terry Moss visited Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola earlier this week. They spent a few hours with children in the pediatrics unit playing air hockey, foosball and football games on Playstation2.

• Georgia WR Troy Bergeron and DE R-Kal Truluck visited patients at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute earlier this week.

• On Thursday, New Orleans QB Danny Wimprine, DB Calvin Spears and DL Henry Bryant are visiting a pediatric unit at Oschner Hospital.

• Philadelphia OL Phil Bogle, who lost his mother to cancer, will visit an area hospital along with ESPN commentator Bob Wischusen later this week.

• Colorado DL Kyle Moore-Brown is currently setting up a team for the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization National Walk Day on Mother’s Day (May 11). Many Crush players will not only be donating to the team, which has made its own team t-shirts, but several will also be walking in the fundraising event.

Cancer does not discriminate. It can affect anyone. Andrea Krall, director of communications for the Blaze, is experiencing the disease first-hand. Shortly before her family was set to take a holiday cruise in December, her mother began having terrible headaches and soon after was diagnosed with brain cancer. She has since undergone much treatment, including aggressive radiation chemotherapy for six weeks.

Krall believes that any size donation of one’s time or money – donating money to cancer research, donating time at hospitals, being an aide, doing cancer walks – helps tremendously.

“I think that if someone would have told me a year ago that this was going to happen, I still wouldn’t have been able to prepare. Emotionally, physically, mentally, there’s just no way to prepare,” she said. “It’s such a horrific disease which takes so much from everyone involved. Anything people can give just gives patients and their families hope. Finding hope in the little things is what gets us through every day.”

So, what will you do – not only this week, but throughout the year – to support cancer research, give hope to others, and, ultimately, help find a cure?