Rams safety Quentin Lake knows more about heart valve disease than most. So does his father, Carnell – a fellow former UCLA standout, five-time NFL All-Pro and member of the 1990s All-Decade Team.

Carnell’s father, who was Quentin’s grandfather, died of heart valve disease. So when the Rams partnered with Edwards Lifesciences two years ago – a collaboration focused on raising heart health awareness and offering free screenings for those 65 and older — the Lakes were all in.

The partnership includes the “Off The Sidelines” campaign and sponsorship of the Rams Legends Community. When Edwards planned a public-service announcement for the campaign, the Lakes didn’t hesitate to volunteer to star in it.

“It hits home for us,” said Carnell Lake, a Culver City native and 13-year NFL star who played 10 seasons, mostly at safety, with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Heart health and heart valve disease in particular. A lot of people in the community should know about this. From the very beginning, Quentin and I were on board, and it’s been a great experience. Rams and Edwards combined have really done a great job getting the message out.”

Before the Rams took the field for the second day of training camp Friday at Loyola Marymount, several Rams legends gathered in an auditorium for breakfast, a presentation and an early screening of the new PSA featuring the Lakes. The video, set to roll out in September, is already available via the Off The Sidelines website.

The campaign targets a 50+ demographic – like many of the legends in attendance – aiming to spread awareness that heart valve disease is not just a part of aging, but something treatable. Symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain are often dismissed as signs of getting older.

But life in older age doesn’t have to be that way.

Experts like interventional cardiologist Dr. Columbus Batiste say education about testing and treatment options is still lacking. Events and PSAs like the one featuring the Lakes help close that gap.

“The biggest issue boils down to health literacy,” Batiste said. “Many think, ‘This is just what’s going to happen to me. I was born, I’ll die – it’s part of the process.’ But people need to know these conditions can be treated. You can keep living life.”

The Rams’ involvement has elevated the visibility and credibility of Edwards’ mission. Rams legends, including LeRoy Irvin, Jackie Slater, Rod Perry, Mickey Sutton and others, were in attendance, helping carry the message of health literacy.

“It’s honestly the perfect synergy and perfect partnership,” said Larry Wood, corporate vice president for Edwards. “We bring all of our medical knowledge and our physicians and our equipment. They bring their brand, trusted partnerships, players and community.”

While many players fit the target age Edwards hopes to reach, it was 48-year-old Torry Holt – the youngest and perhaps most decorated legend – who seemed most impacted.

A Super Bowl champion, First-Team All-Pro wide receiver, member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team and seven-time Pro Bowler, Holt built a career on elite performance. But even he walked away with a shift in perspective.

“I got educated myself today,” Holt said. “I learned what I need to do to prolong my life and my health. The heart is the muscle that keeps it all going. So to hear how (Edwards) has things in place that can help you, I’m all here for that. I’m now able to share that information that was given to me with others.”

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for one in five deaths, according to the CDC. That reality makes campaigns like Off The Sidelines – and the Rams’ involvement – so vital. By lending their platform and reach, the team helps bring life-saving awareness to the forefront.

For Carnell Lake, whose family has lived with the consequences of heart disease, the PSA’s message is more than a cause. It’s a calling.

“Heart failure can be a silent killer,” Carnell Lake said. “They could pop up and hit people instantly. You know, that’s again, close to my heart. It’s, you know. But prevention is, you know. It is an amazing thing. If you can go in and protect it early, you can prevent a lot of damage to your heart, and hopefully it’ll save a lot of lives.”