By: Barre Campbell
OTTAWA – The Ottawa REDBLACKS, Ottawa 67’s and Ottawa Fury FC today announced plans for Pink Week, a trifecta of games where each team will help raise awareness of women’s cancers and help reduce occurrences by supporting research initiatives. Pink Week, organized in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, starts this Sunday afternoon when the 67’s host the Plymouth Whalers and continues next weekend when the REDBLACKS host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night and Fury FC host the Indy Eleven on Sunday Oct. 26.
“The fight against women’s cancers is one that our three teams are eager to take-up,” said Jeff Hunt, President of OSEG Sports, the parent company of the 67’s, REDBLACKS and Fury FC. “Every family has been touched by cancer in some way and so we all have a personal stake in supporting Pink Week and helping to find a cure.”
Players on all OSEG sports teams will be wearing or sporting pink in some way during their Pink Week games to visually support awareness of the cause. The Cancer Society will be raising funds with the sale of pink toques at the games and other activities will take place to provide fans with opportunities to show their support for the fight.
“With early detection, breast cancer is more than 90 per cent beatable and because of events like this, more people know to talk to their doctors,” said Byron James, Manager of the Ottawa Community Office of the Canadian Cancer Society. “But much more than the statistics, beating cancer means not having to say goodbye to the women we love.”
Currently, in Ottawa, the Cancer Society is conducting 20 clinical trials and investing $3.58 million in local research to better prevent, detect and treat patients. This brings the local research total in Ottawa to $18 million over the last 15 years.
Tickets for all three Pink Week games are available by linking from the team websites or calling 613.232.6767.
