St Andrews, Go Pink This October!

This October, St Andrews is going pink, and our sports teams are leading the charge. The National Breast Cancer Foundation reminds us that breast cancer doesn’t wait, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month helps coordinate efforts to take action, engage, and educate. 

To learn more about how our sports teams are supporting the cause, I spoke to the Netball, Football, and Cheerleading clubs about their initiatives. 

Alexia Yuile, the Netball Club’s Fundraising Officer and 3s Captain, said that, as a predominantly female club, its efforts are rooted in a commitment to charities supporting women. 

Under the banner, ‘Think Pink,’ Yuile highlighted the club’s recent and upcoming events. These include a run with the Runs and Buns and CoppaFeel! which took place on Sunday 11 October. Also  included was a double feature on Wednesday 14 October, with a talk run by CoppaFeel! on breast cancer and the importance of checking your chest, followed by a pink-themed night at the Union. 

“Alongside this, we will be selling pink Gain the Edge grippy socks as a fun way to show your support for the cause, with all profits going towards CoppaFeel!” Yuile said. “They also help improve performance in the gym, on court, and everywhere else in your life,” she added. You can purchase them every Wednesday in October at the AU Sports Centre from 1-2:30pm for £7.  

Yuile told The Saint, “I hope slowly, year by year, if this continues, people at the University will be more informed about the importance of checking for breast cancer, especially as it affects one in seven women in the UK.” 

Caroline Carr-Smith, St Andrews Football Club President, spoke about her and Vice-President Alex Tenney’s initiative, ‘Presidents in Pink.’

Carr-Smith noted this is the third year the Football Club has participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with her and Tenney running a mile every day — excluding Wednesdays — when they wear pink at their fixtures. “We document and post our runs in short videos to help us reach more people, and encourage everyone to donate to Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s leading breast cancer charity.” 

Carr-Smith describes her hopes for their efforts. “This month, Alex and I hope to reach our goal of raising £750.” Tenney is also leading a yoga session, with plans for a fundraising bake sale at the end of October. 

Lauren Miller, the Cheerleading Club President, also discussed her club’s efforts. Like Yuile, she highlighted the number of women in the club and how that relates to their support of CoppaFeel!. 

Miller highlighted the ‘Bring a Friend & Wear Pink’ practice sessions on Wednesday 28 October and Thursday 29 October, urging friends to get involved. “We will be encouraging everyone attending to wear pink, and we will collect donations for CoppaFeel! upon arrival, with the goal of raising as much as possible.” 

Miller emphasised what this month’s efforts mean for the team. “Every member of our club is extremely passionate about supporting the cause, and we wanted to use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an opportunity to show our support, encourage conversations around breast health, and make a meaningful contribution to CoppaFeel!’s work,” she said.

Miller added: “Being part of a wider movement makes the campaign feel even more meaningful to us, as it shows the impact that university sports clubs can have when they come together.” 

Breast cancer is a cause that touches many lives on campus. Our sports clubs’ efforts show how university teams can use their platforms to make a difference by bringing conversations about breast health beyond the field or court. 

Get involved with these initiatives, check your chests, and donate if you can! 

Photo Credit: Alexia Yuile