Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ annual Cut & Color Event.
H John Mejia has the exclusive!
All right, today we’re at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers headquarters for the Cut and Color Fund Secure event. Here’s my story. Today, Buccaneers, players, coaches, legends, and the staff are coming together for *** cause that’s bigger than football. The team’s annual Cut and Color Fund Secure event benefits the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and helps support children and families battling pediatric cancer every day. Leading the effort is Buccaneers Chief Operating Officer, Brian. Today was all about the kids and getting them to laugh and giggle, and we accomplished that and we raised *** lot of money. We hit the million dollars mark, over *** million dollars over the 12 years, but more important than that, we’re bringing some awareness every day. 43 parents get the phone call that their child their little boy or little girl has cancer, and that has to stop. And only 4% of the proceeds that go towards cancer. Go towards pediatrics and that has to change. These kids are warriors, and today was *** day for them to forget about the shots and the syringes and the radiation and just be kids and to give *** parent an opportunity to see their child laugh and giggle. That’s what today is about. For one afternoon, the children become the stars. Now the Buccaneers organization had this event to create memories these families will never forget. Now among the families attending this year’s event is the Costello family. Their daughter Vivian was diagnosed with cancer in 2023, but what immediately stood out wasn’t the diagnosis. It was the love surrounding her. And it’s through organizations such as the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation that really empower families to be placed. In *** position to care for their children best and to have organizations like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers follow suit and to provide support, such as *** fantastic opportunity like we have here today, this is truly priceless. Anything that can bring *** smile to her face just makes it makes, it means all the world, you know, she’s fantastic and we’ve had *** wonderful day and it’s. All thanks to this organization. Through every doctor’s visit, treatment, and challenge, Vivian’s family has been right there beside her, including her sisters Ella and Juliana. I think it’s amazing being here again. Like my dad said, it’s *** once in *** lifetime opportunity, and I just love my sister so much. She’s amazing. Then came perhaps the most powerful answer of the day. When I asked Vivian what she enjoyed most about being here, what I really liked the most was spending time with my family and all the good activities and seeing everyone else being happy and. Seeing everyone happy, not herself, everyone else. Wow. Now that’s the kind of perspective these children teach all of us. Events like this remind families they’re not fighting alone, and they remind survivors how far they’ve come. It’s very kind of them, and I appreciate it. The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the Buccaneers have worked together for more than *** decade to create moments like these while also helping fund life saving research. It’s so exciting what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do for this community of Tampa Bay. $1 million over 12 years raising through *** fundraiser like Cutton Keller means so much. The teams here, the players here, the staff’s here, they pour their whole heart and soul into this, and it’s all for the cause of supporting children battling pediatric cancer and trying to fund research that is less toxic and more therapeutic. It makes *** huge difference. *** trial costs *** million dollars. The Buccaneers have now funded *** trial. That’s phenomenal. Today’s event is so huge in one, raising child cancer awareness. The kids get to come out. They get to have *** life changing experience of meeting some of their role models and some of these idols in the community they reach out to. And it also does such *** good job of raising excellent funds for the research that we do through the Sunshine Project. He’s *** strong warrior. He’s doing fantastic. When I met him, he was yay high. Now he’s, well, I still got him, but he’s doing phenomenal. He’s off to college now, right? But it means so much that *** football team can make *** difference. Not one child’s life, but numerous children across the Tampa Bay. I remember *** couple of years ago when I was younger going through the stuff that these kids are going through, and you know times can be hard on you, your family, people around you, but even small things like this that, you know, to *** lot of people might not seem like *** lot, but to the kids like us, it means the world that things like events like this where you can meet your favorite players, do stuff like that, meet other kids who are going through the same thing as you, and for, you know, they to put all this stuff together and the Buccaneers put. It means *** lot to not only me, but all the kids going through it because you never know how hard this stuff is. Now for the players, spending time with these children is *** reminder that courage isn’t just measured by wins and losses. It’s measured by the strength shown by these young fighters every single day. I feel like we get more out of it than they do. It’s fun just being out here just to put *** smile on their faces and, you know, just bring them joy. It’s inspiring, um, you know, they, I mean, obviously they don’t know any different, but to continue to put *** smile. The face every morning, get up and fight, truly fight for their life and have to go through that battle is inspiring to us and we appreciate them coming out and doing this and it’s fun for us, you know, I’m all about kids, so I enjoy anything I can do to get back to kids or anything I can do to get back to anybody. I’m down. So I love that this organization is built by that and love those things and stand by those things. I’m from UCF. It was big there, you know, we interacted with *** lot of kids and you know it’s always awesome. And for head coach Todd Bowles, the interaction between players and children never gets old. I had *** great painter and *** great artist do it this year, but supporting them for like the 7th, 8th year in *** row now since I’ve been here has been outstanding, you know, the pediatric cancer group has been coming here every year. The whole team comes out to support them. I think it’s *** great event. I think it’s great for them to see the kids. I think it’s great for the kids to see the players and the coaches, and can’t say enough about it. Talk about *** team effort. The entire Buccaneers organization comes together to make this day possible. This is *** total Tampa Bay Buccaneer team effort. It starts with the Glazer family. Our coaches, head coach Todd Bowles was here. Jason Light, our scouting department, the guys behind the scenes, our entire organization comes out as we should, and we just want to be *** part of this community and help end pediatric cancer as another successful event comes. to *** close. The impact extends far beyond today. For these families, knowing they’re not fighting alone may be the greatest gift of all. The hair will grow back, the colors will fade, but oh man, the smiles, the friendships, the memories, and the hope created here, they’re gonna last *** lifetime. All right, that’s *** wrap from Tampa Bay headquarters for the Cut and Color Fun Secure event. For Good L Tampa Bay on MORT TV. I’m H John Mejia. Oh
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ annual Cut & Color Event.
H John Mejia has the exclusive!
Updated: 9:03 AM EDT Jun 30, 2026
At the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ annual Cut & Color Funds the Cure event, the spotlight wasn’t on football—it was on the incredible children and families battling pediatric cancer. This Good Life Tampa Bay Special Report highlights the courage, hope, and resilience of these young heroes while showcasing how the Buccaneers and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation are making a difference in the lives of families throughout our community.
At the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ annual Cut & Color Funds the Cure event, the spotlight wasn’t on football—it was on the incredible children and families battling pediatric cancer. This Good Life Tampa Bay Special Report highlights the courage, hope, and resilience of these young heroes while showcasing how the Buccaneers and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation are making a difference in the lives of families throughout our community.