Slade ladies ‘Play in Pink’ for Breast Cancer Research

THE green at Slade Valley Golf Club was turned pink for a day when members came out to ‘Play in Pink’ to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.

For more than two decades, the Irish Ladies Golf Union has supported the National Breast Cancer Research Institute through golf days hosted by Lady Captains at golf clubs throughout Ireland.

The ‘Play in Pink’ event has been one of the fundraisers which has grown from strength to strength over the past couple of years, raising over one million euro for the Research Institute to date.

The National Breast Cancer Research Institute is a national charity that funds a comprehensive research programme at the National University of Ireland, Galway.

The research team, in collaboration with universities and hospitals across the globe, focuses on the development and improvement of diagnostic techniques and treatment strategies, to drive real and measurable improvement in clinical outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Slade Valley Golf Club hosted the fundraiser on Friday, August 20 which saw ladies come out to play a game of golf while donning pink clothes, wigs and accessories.

Slade Valley Lady Captain Anne O’Shea told The Echo that there was a great turn out on the day.

“It was very successful, we had over 60 ladies playing which was fantastic,” she said.

“We had all the ladies in pink all over the course playing a scramble format. It was fantastic – the events take place across the country and raise a huge amount of money.”

It is the first time that Slade Valley has held the ‘Play in Pink’ event, but Ann says there is a possibility to make it an annual event given the success of this year.

“A lot of clubs have it as an annual event so next year’s captain may decide to do it again,” she said.

According to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, currently 1 in 11 Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before 75 years of age and there are 3,500 cases diagnosed annually which is set to continue to increase.

“There are very few ladies at this stage that don’t know somebody that has had breast cancer, so I think that is why the support was so great,” explained Anne.

“I would like to thank everybody who came out to support our day in Slade Valley Golf Club.”