With the amazing success of the fundraiser over the past two years, Yarra Glen Football Netball Club (YGFNC) decided to host one more Pink Sports Day.
Pink Sports Days are a great way for a school or a sporting club, an association or a league to rally together to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and its work supporting Australians affected by breast cancer.
Each day this year, 58 Australians will be told they have breast cancer, which is over 20,000 people in 2025.
It is expected that 217 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and many more are affected through the diagnosis of a partner, mother or friend.
This year, this fundraiser is organised by YGFNC social media manager Jasmin Wood and her friend Lauren Bull, who is also a past premiership netball player at YGFNC and used to coach netball for the club.
Ms Wood said the Pink Sports Day is about bringing people together, creating awareness, and raising as much money as possible for BCNA.
“On the day, all the players will wear pink socks, which we get from BCNA. Again, all proceeds go into the fundraiser,” she said.
“There will be raffles, silent auctions. We have a lot of small businesses around town that donate packages, vouchers, wine, hampers, all these things, which are involved in the raffles and auctions.
“We also have one of the football players who’s doing the big shave. We usually have some netball girls who do some baking, like little pink cupcakes and cookies.”
Ms Wood came up with the idea of hosting this event in Yarra Glen two years ago because her mum, Sandra Wood, who was a genuine stalwart of the YGFNC, died of secondary breast cancer the year before.
“We did the first one on 3 July in 2023, which was (my mum’s) birthday, and we raised nearly $11,000, which was crazy, so then we thought, ‘Let’s keep doing it.’,” Ms Wood said.
“Last year, we raised over $14,000.
“A lot of support has gone behind it from my family and friends.”
After succeeding in raising approximately $25,000 from the past two fundraisers, the local sporting club is now aiming to raise at least $5000 to bring the total to $30,000.
The Wood family has a special connection with YGFNC.
Jasmine Wood plays goal defence for the B Grade Netball and is a vice-captain of the team.
Her brother, Sam Wood, plays for the Senior Football and is a co-captain of the team.
Both spent their childhood within the club where they fell in love with each sport they now love to play.
Although they left the club for a while, they came back to their hometown club about four years ago and have played for the senior teams ever since.
Their parents, Peter and Sandra Wood, were committee members of the YGFNC, and Peter Wood used to coach football for the club as well.
Mr Peter Wood is still involved in the club as a big fan, coming to the game each week to support both netball and football teams.
The Pink Sports Day will be held on Saturday 9 August at the Yarra Glen Recreation Reserve when Yarra Glen takes on Powelltown.
To support the fundraiser, please visit the following website, pinksportsday.bcna.org.au/my-fundraising/2477/ygfnc-pink-sports-day-3
