Brittany Burns, a former Clemson University rower and the fiancée of Buffalo Bills linebacker Tony Steward, passed away on Monday. She was 26 years old.
Burns and Steward met while the two were student-athletes at Clemson. They were engaged this past December, just days after Burns was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. She had been receiving treatment for the disease at the University of Pennsylvania, and lived in Orchard Park with Steward.
After her diagnosis, Burns and Steward started the charitable campaign, Fight Like a Girl, which helps women who are fighting ovarian cancer. You can read more about that effort here.
#Bills offer condolences following the death of Brittany Burns, who was engaged to linebacker Tony Steward. pic.twitter.com/EQHAZxQWvE
— Andy Young (@AndyTWCNews) February 2, 2016
Steward was a sixth-round pick of the Bills in the 2015 NFL Draft. He struggled with injuries throughout his rookie season, including a back injury suffered on December 6 that landed him on season-ending Injured Reserve.
Please keep Brittany Burns, Tony Steward, and the couple's families and friends in your thoughts and prayers today, Bills fans.