This coming Mothers Day weekend, AFL Canberra will swap the traditional red footy for a hot pink match ball when the players compete in the second annual Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) Pink Footy Day.
Held in partnership with Victorian Country Football League (VCFL), Netball Victoria and AFL Canberra, BCNA’s Pink Footy & Netball Day runs from 8 – 9 May 2010 and is a chance for footy and netball clubs across Australia to show their support for women from their local communities who have been affected by breast cancer.
More than 200 football clubs and 100 netball clubs will be chasing a pink ball to their respective goal posts and back during Pink Footy & Netball Day 2010. Monies raised from the purchase of the pink game day ball will go directly to BCNA to support its work in ensuring women diagnosed with breast cancer are provided with the very best information, services and support possible, no matter who they are or where they live.
Senator Kate Lundy is the Ambassador for Pink Footy Day in Canberra and has urged Canberra residents to get behind the Pink Footy Day, by showing support for families affected by breast cancer and helping to raise money.
“Pink Footy & Netball Day is great opportunity for the whole community to put on a show of strength and support for women affected by breast cancer,” Senator Lundy said. “We hope that everyone will come down and cheer on the teams as they play in support of friends, families and loved ones affected by breast cancer.”
BCNA CEO Lyn Swinburne AM, herself a breast cancer survivor, says Pink Footy & Netball Day is a great way for sporting communities to demonstrate their support for local families affected by breast cancer.
“14,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone, and the funds raised via Pink Footy & Netball Day are critical to the work BCNA does in offering women who are affected by breast cancer from all over Australia, ongoing and up-to-date information, services and support,” Lyn said.[1] “Seeing a pink footy flying through the goal posts or a pink netball shooting through the net, is as much of a buzz for our women as the clubs who have come together to show their support for these women and their families.”
Breast Cancer Network Australia is the peak national organisation for Australians personally affected by breast cancer. Visit us at www.bcna.org.au to find out more about our programs and services.
[1] This is projected data based on current trends in breast cancer incidence. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare & National Breast and Ovarian Cancer 2009. Breast cancer in Australia: an overview 2009. Cancer series no. 50. CAN 46. Canberra: AIHW.
