When Matthew Judon takes the field on Monday night, he will do so with cleats in honor of two of the most important women in his life: his mother and his wife.
For My Cause My Cleats, Judon will be representing the American Cancer Society and International Justice Mission, both of which hold significant meanings for Judon.
The cleat that is for the American Cancer Society is for his mother, Pieretta Hairston, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Judon was playing in Baltimore while his mother was getting treatment in Michigan in the height of COVID, making an already difficult situation even harder.
"It was tough. It was really tough. Something like that, I couldn't do anything for her besides be a support person and just kind of be there for her," he said. We can't even pour into her house and just be around her and support."
Earlier this year, Hairston was deemed cancer-free, and Judon and his siblings found a special to way to celebrate the moment they had longed for. They surprised her with a new house.
After the strength she showed through her diagnosis, Judon said they all saw just how tough their mom is.
"She had to drive all the way from West Bloomfield to Ann Arbor four times a week to her treatments and she did all of them with a smile on her face," he said. "She had help but it was tough for her. She made it through. She pushed through."
With one cleat representing the American Cancer Society, Judon wanted to showcase causes that his wife, BreighAnn, educated him on. She is passionate about advocating for vulnerable women, from those experiencing abuse to preventing sex trafficking.
In that vein, he choice to highlight International Justice Mission.
"The American Cancer Society was a no-brainer, but the other cleats was just bringing more awareness and more man presence to such a silent thing that's going on in the world, but it's very huge," Judon said. "Nobody every really talks about it, so I'm just thinking a male voice and a male presence to it can help shed a light on the struggles that our women face."
You can check out the rest of the Patriots causes and cleats in the gallery below.
For the sixth straight season, the New England Patriots are participating in the NFL's 'My Cause My Cleats' campaign, which gives both players and coaches the opportunity to wear cleats that are designed to promote a cause important to them. Here's a look at the Patriots' custom cleats.
Jake Bailey - Fur The Brand
Jake Bailey - Fur The Brand
Jake Bailey - Fur The Brand
Jake Bailey - Fur The Brand
Christian Barmore - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Christian Barmore - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Christian Barmore - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
De'Vante Bausby - Aim4Peace
De'Vante Bausby - Aim4Peace
De'Vante Bausby - Aim4Peace
Bill Belichick - Bill Belichick Foundation
Bill Belichick - Bill Belichick Foundation
Bill Belichick - Bill Belichick Foundation
Bill Belichick - Bill Belichick Foundation
Bill Belichick - Bill Belichick Foundation
Steve Belichick - One Love Foundation
Steve Belichick - One Love Foundation
Steve Belichick - One Love Foundation
Kendrick Bourne - Team Impact
Kendrick Bourne - Team Impact
Kendrick Bourne - Team Impact
Trent Brown - TB77 Cares
Trent Brown - TB77 Cares
DeMarcus Covington - Inner City Weight Lifting
DeMarcus Covington - Inner City Weight Lifting
Carl Davis - Trenchwork Foundation, Military Appreciation/Support
Carl Davis - Trenchwork Foundation, Military Appreciation/Support
Carl Davis - Trenchwork Foundation, Military Appreciation/Support
Cody Davis - Axe ALS
Cody Davis - Axe ALS
Cody Davis - Axe ALS
James Ferentz - University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
James Ferentz - University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
James Ferentz - University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
Nick Folk - Children's Tumor Foundation
Nick Folk - Children's Tumor Foundation
Nick Folk - Children's Tumor Foundation
Hunter Henry - International Justice Mission
Hunter Henry - International Justice Mission
Hunter Henry - International Justice Mission
J.C. Jackson - Embrace With Grace + Boys and Girls Club
J.C. Jackson - Embrace With Grace + Boys and Girls Club
J.C. Jackson - Embrace With Grace + Boys and Girls Club
J.C. Jackson - Embrace With Grace + Boys and Girls Club
J.C. Jackson - Embrace With Grace + Boys and Girls Club
Jakob Johnson - Kristin's Fund
Jakob Johnson - Kristin's Fund
Jakob Johnson - Kristin's Fund
Jonathan Jones - Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation
Jonathan Jones - Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation
Jonathan Jones - Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation
Jonathan Jones - Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation
Jonathan Jones - Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation
Mac Jones - Boston Children's Hospital
Mac Jones - Boston Children's Hospital
Mac Jones - Boston Children's Hospital
Mac Jones - Boston Children's Hospital
Ted Karras - The Village of Merici, Inc.
Ted Karras - The Village of Merici, Inc.
Ted Karras - The Village of Merici, Inc.
Chris Mattes - 4 The Future Foundation
Chris Mattes - 4 The Future Foundation
Devin McCourty - Sickle Cell, Boston Medical Center
Devin McCourty - Sickle Cell, Boston Medical Center
Devin McCourty - Sickle Cell, Boston Medical Center
Devin McCourty - Sickle Cell, Boston Medical Center
Devin McCourty - Sickle Cell, Boston Medical Center
Devin McCourty - Sickle Cell, Boston Medical Center
Ronnie Perkins - American Cancer Society
Ronnie Perkins - American Cancer Society
Ronnie Perkins - American Cancer Society
Ronnie Perkins - American Cancer Society
Matthew Slater - Compassion International
Matthew Slater - Compassion International
Matthew Slater - Compassion International
Matthew Slater - Compassion International
Josh Uche - Uche Org.
Josh Uche - Uche Org.
Josh Uche - Uche Org.
Josh Uche - Uche Org.
Kyle Van Noy - Van Noy Valor Foundation
Kyle Van Noy - Van Noy Valor Foundation
Kyle Van Noy - Van Noy Valor Foundation
Isaiah Wynn - Alzheimer's Association
Isaiah Wynn - Alzheimer's Association
Isaiah Wynn - Alzheimer's Association
Isaiah Wynn - Alzheimer's Association
