Nicole Cavaliere
Section 235, Row 11, Seats 7-8
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer
Nicole Cavaliere spends her days caring for critically ill patients as an ICU nurse practitioner at Jefferson Health in Center City. In 2020, while she was working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, a routine mammogram revealed that she had breast cancer. She was 43.
Facing cancer is frightening on its own. Facing it while becoming immuno-compromised in the middle of a pandemic was terrifying. But with her family and friends supporting her every step of the way, Nicole knew there was only one option: fight and persevere. Today, she is a six-year survivor and going strong.
"I have never thought of myself as anything but a survivor," she says, "even while battling cancer as a warrior." Caring for patients who are fighting for their lives has shown her how fragile life can be, and it has made her grateful for every opportunity to enjoy it.
Nicole's love for the Eagles began with her father, whose season tickets dated back to Franklin Field. Some of her most treasured childhood memories are of going to games at the Vet with him. He passed away when she was 17, and the tickets didn't stay in the family. But a chance meeting in 2004 led to season tickets of her own, and now she brings her father with her in her heart every time she cheers on the Birds.
Her message to others: "Take it one day at a time. Lean on others when you need to. You got this!"
Anthony "Tony" Benner
Section C20, Row 9, Seats 14-15
Diagnosis: Ewing's Sarcoma
Tony Benner was in his final year of college, counting down to graduation, when a scan confirmed news no student expects to hear. He had Ewing's sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone and soft tissue.
While his classmates were planning their next steps, Tony was suddenly planning a fight. He approached it the way he approaches everything in life: All in. "You must give 100% for everything you do," he says. That mindset became the foundation of his fight.
On October 9, 2009, Tony went into remission. This October marks 17 years since that milestone, and his perspective on life, and on Sundays, is beautifully simple: "To be alive and to cheer for the team I grew up loving is everything."
His journey also taught him that strength and vulnerability can live side by side, and that no one has to face cancer alone.
His message to anyone in the middle of their own battle: "No one battles alone. You are strong. You can be vulnerable. Believe in yourself and fight for the life you deserve."
From a college senior facing an uncertain future to a proud Eagles Season Ticket Member, Tony is living proof of what that kind of belief can do.
The Beren Family
Sections 202, 231, and 239
Diagnosis: Stage 2 Colorectal Cancer
In 2023, Danielle Beren's family faced something few families ever have to: two cancer diagnoses, just two weeks apart. In late May, her father, George, was diagnosed with Stage 3 leiomyosarcoma in his leg. Soon after, her mother, Sharon, learned she had Stage 2 colorectal cancer.
Overnight, the family was navigating two journeys at once, with separate treatment plans, countless appointments, and, at one point, surgeries in the very same week. Through it all, Danielle's parents shared a remarkable determination to fight and to make the most of their time together.
Sadly, her father's cancer did not respond to treatment. In January 2024, he chose to return home on hospice care so he could spend his final days surrounded by the people he loved most. Today, Danielle's mother is fully in remission, a beacon of hope amid the family's loss.
Sundays have always belonged to the Birds in Danielle's family. She grew up loving football because her father loved it, and they watched every game together. Now, as a Season Ticket Member, she is passing that love on to her son, who was born after her father passed and carries on his name and legacy.
"Courage is not about never being afraid," Danielle says. "It is about continuing to move forward despite that fear." Her parents showed her exactly what that looks like.
Stephen Bradley
Section 220, Row 9, Seat 28
Diagnosis: Stage 3 Breast Cancer
Stephen Bradley has been an Eagles Season Ticket Member for 26 years, and few fans know better than he does what it means to keep showing up.
In 2016, Stephen was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, a reminder that the disease doesn't only affect women. He completed his treatment, and today he is proud to say he has been cancer-free for 10 years.
The road since then hasn't always been easy, but through every challenge, his positive spirit and his love for the Birds have never wavered.
For Stephen, gameday is something special. "Being able to cheer for my hometown team is phenomenal," he says. "My season ticket gives me access to 70,000 fellow fans!"
His strength comes from the steady support of his family and friends, the people who have stood by him through every chapter of his journey.
And his advice to anyone facing cancer today is as upbeat as he is: "Keep the faith and always laugh and smile."
After everything he's been through, Stephen is still laughing, still smiling, and still cheering on his beloved Birds!
Jake Greenberg
Section 120, Row 12, Seats 13-14
Diagnosis: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor
When Michael Greenberg got married in 1984, his "dowry" was a pair of Eagles season tickets. As each of his sons turned 3, he started bringing them to games, and those Sundays became a cherished family tradition. Both boys grew up to be die-hard Eagles fans.
Just days before his youngest son, Jake, turned 30, with a birthday celebration planned around an Eagles tailgate, Jake was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. "That day was the scariest day of our lives," Michael says.
Thankfully, Jake was able to undergo curative surgery with Dr. Roses. Today, he has been cancer-free for almost four years.
But what makes Jake a hero in his father's eyes is what he chose to do next. Since 2022, Jake and his wife, Ingrid, have hosted an annual Eagles tailgate around his birthday and turned it into a fundraiser. They personally match 100% of all donations and make one large gift each year. Jake turned one of the hardest experiences imaginable into a way to help others facing cancer.
Now, Jake and Ingrid are raising two daughters, Noa and Perri, who are already bleeding green. According to Michael, their love and support give Jake strength every day.
Michael's message to others: "Fight every day like your life depends on it. There will be good days and bad days, but you can win this battle with the right attitude, the right support system, and the right medical team."
Erica Lehman
Section: C16, Row 11, Seats 15-16
Diagnosis: Stage IV HPV-positive tonsil cancer
On November 23, 2014, Erica Lehman finished a radiation treatment and headed straight to the stadium to watch the Eagles. Earlier that year, she had been diagnosed with Stage IV HPV-positive tonsil cancer. "At a time when so much of my life revolved around cancer," she says, "for a few hours I got to just be an Eagles fan."
After multiple surgeries and radiation, Erica was officially cleared in 2019, but her experience didn't end there. It shaped the kind of healthcare provider she became. As a nurse practitioner, she gained a perspective from the patient's side that no classroom could teach. And because her own cancer was caused by HPV, prevention became personal. For her Doctor of Nursing Practice work, she chose to focus on cervical cancer screening, specifically improving access to HPV screening.
Today, 12 years after that game, Erica is cancer-free, just months away from completing her doctorate, and still caring for patients. She's also still a die-hard Eagles fan, now cheering from the season tickets she shares with her best friend. Together, they've been there for the heartbreak, the optimism, and two Super Bowl Championships.
"There is something pretty incredible about sitting in the stadium now and thinking about the version of me who went there while battling Stage IV cancer," she says. "She would be very happy to know how things turned out."
Her message to others: "You don't have to be brave every day. Take it one appointment, one treatment, and sometimes one hour at a time. You don't have to see the whole future right now. Just keep giving yourself the chance to get there."
Vicki Malaszecki
Section C6, Rows 16 & 17, Seats 9-10
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer
For the Malaszeckis, Eagles games have always been a family affair. What began as two club seats became four as their sons, Trevor and John, got older and wanted to come along. The crowning moment came when Vicki's husband bought four tickets to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, jokingly warning the boys that it would come out of their inheritance.
That Super Bowl would be Vicki's last game for a while. After her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer a decade ago, Vicki made a point of getting checked. Genetic testing revealed that both sisters carry a hereditary risk, and in August 2025, Vicki learned she had breast cancer, too.
She made the decision to move quickly. On September 12, 2025, she underwent surgery, followed by reconstruction on December 31. "What a New Year's Eve!" her husband says. Her sister, who had walked the same road, helped guide her through every step.
What bothered Vicki most was missing an entire season of Eagles games. But this year, she's back at the Linc with her family, feeling like herself again and looking ahead with hope.
The family's message to others: "Never give up. Use all the support you can get from family and friends. Talk to people who went through it, and go in with a positive attitude!"
David Mitchell
Section C24, Row 14, Seats 9-10
Diagnosis: Leiomyosarcoma
In 2008, at just 28 years old, David Mitchell was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer that often doesn't respond to traditional therapies. Fortunately, his doctors were able to remove the tumor completely. On October 2, 2026, David celebrated a remarkable milestone: 18 years cancer-free.
To his wife, Liya, David is far more than a survivor. "David is truly the most amazing husband and father," she says. "He lives for his family and always puts everyone's needs above his own."
David is the kind of person who goes out of his way to help everyone around him, whether that means carrying a stranger's groceries to their car or rushing to help someone in need. "He is genuinely the kindest person I know," Liya says, "and the world is truly a better place simply by him existing in it."
David is a lifelong Eagles fan, and he and Liya consider themselves lucky to have secured season tickets despite the decades-long waitlist. They have no plans to ever let them go. Win or lose, they're at every game, bringing their fiery spirit to the Linc. As Liya puts it, "We are Birds fans through and through."
What gives David strength? "Family, hands down."
Their message to anyone fighting cancer: "Take it one day at a time, stay strong, and never lose hope. You matter to this world more than you know, and there is still so much life ahead of you. Keep fighting. Never give up."
Stephen Murtaugh
Section 240, Row 25, Seats 12-15
Diagnosis: Urethral Cancer
In 2017, Stephen Murtaugh was in great health with no symptoms at all when he learned he had urethral cancer, a rare diagnosis. Doctors at his first hospital couldn't pinpoint the source and planned to treat him based on the odds. That's when his wife spoke up: "We need a second opinion."
Doctors at the second hospital found the source, and Stephen finally knew exactly what he was fighting. His treatment was aggressive, including chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, and it kept him in the hospital for long stretches of 2018. But thanks to his doctors and nurses, Stephen rang the bell, and today he is cancer-free.
That same year brought a moment Stephen will never forget. He was bald from chemo when the Eagles won their first Super Bowl, and he joked that if being bald was what it took, he would have gladly shaved his head.
Stephen grew up a Ben Hawkins fan thanks to his father, who worked as an usher in the 700 level for the 1980 NFC Championship Game, and has held his seats since the late 1980s. "Being an Eagles fan is a special club," he says. "Those who aren't members will never understand."
Through it all, his wife was his rock. Stephen never once asked "Why me?" and did all he could to help other patients stay positive.
His message to others: "It's OK to be afraid, but focus on tomorrow and keep fighting. Talk to other people who have had cancer and see what you can learn from them."
Janet Parks
Section 129, Row 1, Seats 13-14
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer
In May 2024, Janet Parks found a lump. An ultrasound suggested it was just a cyst, but Janet, who carries a BRCA2 gene mutation and whose mother and sister both had breast cancer, knew better. She and her oncologist pushed for a biopsy. Two days after the biopsy, she heard the words no one wants to hear: "You have breast cancer."
Doctors initially feared Stage 3. But after surgery in August, they learned it was Stage 1. "God had other plans," Janet says.
Then came the most unexpected part of her story. While Janet was recovering, her oncologist recommended that her 37-year-old daughter begin routine screening. An MRI revealed breast cancer, even though her daughter had no lumps. "People ask me, and I am honest: My cancer was a blessing," Janet says. Without her diagnosis, her daughter's cancer might never have been found in time. Today, both are survivors.
The Eagles have long been part of the family's story. Janet's daughter, Alicia, was an Eagles Cheerleader for five years, and the family proudly supported the team's breast cancer awareness events. After her diagnosis, Janet's Eagles rep even sent Crucial Catch merchandise to her seats. "It is an organization that treats you like family," she says.
Her message to others: "Be your own advocate. If something feels off, speak up." And as Janet often says, "In our family, no one fights alone."
