Banding together in the fight to cure cancer

“When I found out I had cancer, there were two things I could do: quit or keep pounding,” Sam Mills Jr. told a locker-room full of people before a big Carolina Panthers game in 2004. “I’m a fighter. I kept pounding,” the celebrated pro footballer-turned-coach went on, urging his teammates to do the same in their game.

Sam Mills’ “keep pounding” mantra became the inspiration for an annual fundraising race after his death. Fast forward to June 2022, and record numbers of JELD-WEN associates and their families hit the streets of downtown Charlotte, N.C. for the 5K walk/run that benefits cancer research and care for patients at the city’s Levine Cancer Institute. Through race participation and donations, JELD-WEN, a co-presenting sponsor of the event, gave more than $19,000. 

“Over the years, JELD-WEN has raised more than $90,000 for cancer research and treatment by participating in the Keep Pounding 5K,” says John Krause, senior vice president, and general manager, North America, JELD-WEN. “As a company with a 60-year legacy of giving back to our communities, I’m so proud of this world-class team and their commitment to this cause.”

Doing right by its people, communities and the world is one of JELD-WEN’s core values – there’s more about this in the company’s most recent sustainability report. The company sets great story by engaging with the communities it’s part of and investing in local efforts and events, especially in the regions where it is a large employer.

In 2022, the Keep Pounding 5K took on a new meaning when more than 300 JELD-WEN people came out in support of one of their own. JELD-WEN demand planning manager Estelle Wilson, who has participated in the event for years, has been fighting triple negative breast cancer since Christmas Eve 2020. Estelle became a symbol of why Team JELD-WEN supports this cause.

“The Keep Pounding 5K is important to me because of everything I have gone through,” says Estelle, who is now two years year out of treatment and is nearing 18 months cancer-free. “This year, I’m not just walking it supporting other people, I’m one of the reasons. JELD-WEN is just amazing, I did not expect this support,” she says.

“The 2022 Keep Pounding 5K campaign was an enormous success,” said Yani Hands, sales ops specialist who also participated. “After nearly two years of limited in-person team activities, the 2022 event was about re-engaging Team JELD-WEN to support this amazing cause and celebrate being together as teammates. This event personifies the JELD-WEN culture.”