Check Your NADS March: A Bold Movement for Testicular Cancer Awareness
Sometimes things align in mission and purpose. And when they do, they can become a powerful force. That is exactly what came to fruition when the co-founder of NADS Organic Underwear brought a bold idea to Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation.
A Ball March. A chance to show up in a bold way and start conversations around testicular cancer during April, Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.
The answer was a resounding yes.
That yes, however, originates from a personal and heartfelt story.
Daniel Baird became an advocate in men’s health through his own health journey. At 21, Dan experienced a life-changing neck injury that led to chronic pain and inflammation. Over time, he discovered he had low testosterone, a condition that significantly impacted his daily life. That experience pushed him to re-evaluate what he thought health really meant and take a closer look at the everyday exposures he had never questioned.
From there, Dan approached his friend Steve Ducey with an idea to create a natural men’s underwear line. NADS was built on the belief that men’s health starts with the basics, cleaner, chemical-free essentials and greater awareness of hormonal and reproductive health.
What started as an idea has now grown into more than 1,000,000 pairs of underwear sold and a meaningful partnership with the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. Their paths first crossed in 2024 when NADS generously supported the Testicular Cancer Conference in San Diego.
So when Dan brought forward the idea of a campaign to bring people together in support of awareness, we were beyond grateful and excited.
In the weeks leading up to the march, TCAF and NADS worked side by side to build awareness and set a goal to raise $25,000 in support of programs and outreach through the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation.
The date was set, the route was chosen, and slowly something began to build around it.
On April 12th, that build became real.
South Congress in Austin was already buzzing that morning, with runners and spectators from the Statesman Cap10K Race still filling the area.
Runners slowed down. Conversations paused mid-sentence. People stepped out of restaurants to see what was happening. Drivers rolled down their windows. Phones came out. What began as curiosity turned quickly into something more, questions, laughter, surprise, and then real conversations about testicular cancer and why it matters. A disease that remains the most common cancer in men ages 15 to 44.
Even with the threat of severe thunderstorms in the forecast, the group kept moving. The sky held long enough for the march to unfold. It felt like one of those quiet alignments you only recognize in hindsight. Participants made their way toward the Texas State Capitol, with NADS front and center, drawing attention along the route.
It was called The Ball March.
And while the imagery is deliberately provocative, the purpose behind it is simple and urgent: raising awareness for testicular cancer and the importance of early detection.
Dan Baird later reflected on the event, saying that leading a movement like this through downtown Austin was “awesome, hilarious, and meaningful.”
“One bold MARCH. One BIG message. CHECK YOUR NADS!”
The event welcomed anyone who wanted to be part of the message. Women joined wearing shirts that read “Check Your NADS.” Survivors walked alongside those currently in treatment. Caregivers, loved ones, and supporters filled the group. The energy shifted depending on who you stood next to.
Some walked with pride in how far they had come. Others walked with weight, carrying the memory of someone they lost. And together, it became something shared rather than individual.
One participant walked in honor of her husband, whom she lost to testicular cancer in 2025. She said she was there so that no other family would have to experience what hers did. In that moment, the purpose of the march stopped being abstract. It became personal in a very real way.
As the group moved through the city, people continued to respond. Some laughed, some stared, many asked questions. And slowly, those questions turned into conversations that might not have happened otherwise.
The entire march was live-streamed on NADS Instagram page, with the phone passed from man to man along the route, and viewers engaging in real time with the message.
The momentum of the event brought in support from individuals like Alex Singleton, Eric Hinman, and companies such as Kono Nutrition.
Alex Singleton, Jahdae Barron & Kim Jones
Alex Singleton, linebacker for the Denver Broncos, was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. He showed up fully present, walking with the group, speaking with people along the route, answering questions, and sharing his experience in a way that made a difficult subject feel human and approachable. At times, he was simply part of the crowd, no separation between story and moment, just conversation happening in real time.
That sense of alignment continued when Jahdae Barron, a teammate of Alex’s on the Denver Broncos who lives in Austin, saw the livestream on Instagram. He got in an Uber, found the group, and joined mid-march, stepping directly into the movement.
Kono Nutrition supported the march by providing nutrition bars at the end. Alex Conley, founder of Kono Nutrition and a leukemia survivor diagnosed at age four, also participated, bringing his own story of resilience into the day.
Members of the endurance community joined as well, including Eric Hinman, a five-time Ironman finisher, whose presence added another layer of visibility and support.
The route covered six miles total, three miles to the Texas State Capitol and three miles back.
By the time the group reached the Capitol, the energy had shifted again. What began as something bold and attention-grabbing had settled into something quieter and more grounded. People stood together taking it in. Strangers were no longer strangers. The moment had become shared.
Austin played its own role in that experience. Runners kept moving, but many slowed down. People did not just pass by, they engaged. The city held space for the message without interruption.
Before the march even began, the fundraising goal of $25,000 had already been surpassed, reaching $25,537, and continuing to grow.
Sometimes awareness comes from education. Sometimes it comes from information and resources. And sometimes it comes from creating a moment people cannot walk past without noticing.
This was one of those moments.
Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation is deeply grateful to everyone who showed up, participated, supported, and helped bring this vision to life. Our hope is that The Ball March continues, not just as an event, but as a tradition that brings visibility, conversation, and real impact to men’s health.
As Dan Baird shared, “The message lives on: CHECK YOUR NADS!” And in Austin, it was heard loud and clear.
Photo Credit to Lauren Grover, Dumpster Dive Photography
Special thanks to Explore Austin (@exploreatx_) for helping to promote the event!