For the second year, Sleep Number, the Minnesota Vikings and American Cancer Society (ACS) joined together to honor 15 cancer survivors and those still battling cancer with a day of pampering.  

Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The "Pamper Her Purple" event at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel, honored these amazing women with a well-deserved day at the spa, followed by an evening reception and panel. Honorees were treated to massages, manicures, facials, a steam room and more.  

Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Seven-year-old Olivia Baldwin was one of the exceptional survivors honored at the event. She was very excited to swim in the hotel pool, and of course get a skip-day from school.  

“She got to do the steam room, which we loved, and we checked out the hot tub and the salt room and all that good stuff," said Stephanie, Olivia’s mother. "It was lovely here, so nice. Something spectacular for a 7-year-old." 

When Olivia was 2, she was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For two-and-a-half years Olivia endured chemotherapy, steroids, a bout with sepsis, surgeries and countless hospital stays. But she has a warrior spirit and fought the whole time. She is now in remission.  

"She's thriving," said Stephanie. "She has a little bit of peripheral neuropathy that she struggles with; other than that, she's spicy and ruling the first grade." 

In the evening, the honorees were welcomed to a reception, where they were honored by special guests and speakers, including Sleep Number Chair, President and CEO Shelly Ibach; Vikings fullback C.J. Ham; Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips; Vikings Chief Operating Officer Andrew Miller; Leah O'Connell (wife of Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell) and ACS Senior Executive Director Anthony Bass. The panel was moderated by television personality Alexa Score, who since the age of 16 has been living with myeloid leukemia. 

Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

“Pamper Her Purple is a celebration of hope. The women that we’re honoring today have endured a tremendous battle against this devastating disease. We’re recognizing their resilience and courage and the hope that comes with it,” said Ibach.  

According to the American Cancer Society, Bass shared, an estimated 10,000 people will have passed away from cancer in the state of Minnesota in 2022, with an anticipated 35,000 people in Minnesota to receive new cancer diagnoses. 

Phillips shared he had an aunt, whom he was very close to, that passed away this spring after battling brain cancer for four-and-a-half months. 

"It was a very unfair fight, I would say," said Phillips. "[The Crucial Catch initiative] does a great job in the NFL of trying to raise awareness of how important these screens can be. Could they have caught this earlier in my aunt's life? Who's the next life that can be saved, or whose life is going to be easier because the cancer was caught earlier?" 

Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

This event is also incredibly close to Ham’s heart. His mother, Tina, had a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer before succumbing to the disease in May 2020. 

"The reason that you guys are here is because you're fighters. I'm a firm believer in, as long as you have the will to live and the will to fight, a lot of things can happen," Ham shared with guests at the end of the night. “I don't necessarily understand the reasons why some people are diagnosed with certain things and have to experience certain things, but I know the fight that you have produces endurance, makes you stronger, makes you a better person.” 

Sleep Number is proud to support the Vikings organization in their community efforts and this important mission.  

“Cancer does not define us, how we respond to it does. I am a passionate advocate in the fight against cancer. I understand how difficult this disease is for both patients and caregivers, and I know how important it is to have faith and respite,” said Ibach. “Pamper Her Purple is a source hope and joy, and a recognition of the challenging fight. I’m honored to stand alongside these incredibly strong women and am proud to be a part of this evening.” 

Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

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