Breast cancer awareness took centre stage throughout round five, with funds raised for this worthy cause across the league.
In addition to a Spalding pink basketball being present for all home teams in the women’s competition, patrons flocked in their thousands and dressed in pink to help promote the cause.
In the Tasmanian rivalry match between Launceston and Hobart, the teams played off for the Mitchell-Greenwood trophy.
Named in honour of former Tornadoes coach Donna Mitchell and Andree Greenwood for their contributions to Tasmanian basketball, the trophy has even more significance with Greenwood currently battling stage four breast cancer. Donations were taken from the crowd in support of the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).
At Bendigo, Peak provided pink socks for all players to wear and an auction of the game ball raised $150.
Frankston also auctioned off their game ball, raising $200 while a signed team photo of both the men’s and women’s teams was sold at auction for $260. Pre-game, the Blues’ junior clubs rattled tins throughout the crowd as well as selling BCNA cardboard cut-outs.
The Sandringham crowd were encouraged to wear their finest pink outfit with the best dressed fan given a $50 TGI Fridays voucher.
A Pink Raffle was run in Dandenong while all mothers dressed in pink were granted entry to the game with a gold coin donation.
Kilsyth also conducted a raffle with prizes including a fully catered six-seat corporate box at a SEABL game, an autographed ‘Pink Round’ game ball and autographed warm-up shirts.
In Albury-Wodonga, 8 year-old Tyra Murray committed to shaving her hair for the World’s Greatest Shave. She easily blew through her target of $1,200, raising an incredible $2,313.
All supporters were encouraged to come in pink to the Brisbane Lady Spartans home game on Friday night while Geelong fitted their women’s team out in limited edition pink uniforms.
Ballarat Rush were also decked out in pink with ribbons and dyed hair while for every supporter dressed in pink, $2 was donated to the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute.
A rousing success, the round raised money and awareness for breast cancer with clubs, players and patrons all contributing to the worthy cause.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.