“Give her the Pink Card”
Breast Cancer Awareness month this year got off to an unusual start with the help of Hibs Football Club. On Sunday 28 September, at the Hibs vs Rangers game, we distributed “pink cards” (similar to a referee’s red/yellow card) to all of the men (and women) attending the match.
The aim was to make men aware of the huge number of women affected by breast cancer each year in Scotland (almost 4000 women were diagnosed in 2005, the latest statistics available. The number is increasing year on year – a staggering 9 per cent increase in the last ten years!) Behind this huge number are thousands of husbands, partners, fathers, brothers and sons who also feel the emotional effects of the disease.
As well as giving out pink cards, our pink lady logo was displayed throughout the match on the LED screen around the pitch and the match went out live on Santanta sports channel. As ever, Margo MacDonald was there to support us and gave a short message to the fans before kick off and at half time.
We would like to thank the Board and the staff at Hibs for their wonderful support and help in making this novel start to Breast Cancer Awareness Month – in particular, our thanks goes to Rod Petrie, the Chairman of Hibs Football Club and Anna Campbell, Events Co-ordinator. We would also like to thank our own family and friends who gave up their precious time on a Sunday afternoon to distribute the leaflets.
And, finally, we would like to thank the football supporters, both Hibs and Rangers, for the courtesy and respect they showed to all of our volunteers and for graciously accepting our pink cards. We hope the cards made it to their wives, girlfriends, sisters, mothers and daughters.
Photo by Scotsman Publications