As part of the Golf Ireland focus on charity, Play in Pink, the golf charity division for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) has been awarded with an Official Charity Partner status until 2027. Play in Pink events took place in over 220 golf clubs in Ireland in 2024 and will raise more than €600k which goes directly to the NBCRI to fund breast cancer research programmes at the University of Galway. Play in Pink is also the official partner for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the Irish Challenge. Currently, 1 in 7 Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 75, with over 3500 cases diagnosed annually. These women are our mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, friends and neighbours so most people have been touched by this disease in some way.
The research team at The Lambe Institute at The University of Galway, in collaboration with universities and hospitals across the globe, focus on the development and improvement of diagnostic techniques and treatment strategies, to drive real and measurable improvement in clinical outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Commenting on the announcement Miriam Hand, National Co-Ordinator for Play in Pink said; “I’m delighted with this partnership as we’ve been working with golf clubs in Ireland on the Play in Pink initiative for the last 20 years. We’ve held thousands of events in that time with golfers ‘playing in pink’ to support the NBCRI. “Having the Governing Body now assisting and supporting the charity will help us to grow awareness even more and to spread the word of Play in Pink and the charity to every golf club in Ireland. It’s a huge boost for the charity and I’m excited to see how it can positively impact clubs and sign-ups for 2025.”
Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly added; “We are thrilled to announce Play in Pink as an Official Charity Partner. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting meaningful causes within our community. The incredible efforts of Play in Pink and the NBCRI resonate deeply with our members. Together, we hope to make a significant impact in advancing breast cancer research and supporting those affected by it.”
For more information on Play in Pink visit www.PlayinPink.com
With your help, we can positively impact the future for women in Ireland.
NOTE: A Play in Pink day is a day where members and visitors (if an open day) come together to support the NBCRI Charity, Play in Pink. The club organise the golf day and participants are encouraged to “Play in Pink” with funds raised from the day being donated to the charity. The days are organised and coordinated by the golf clubs (Lady Vice Captain or some other designated Play in Pink coordinator) and they can be open days or members-only days.
Clubs run the days with entry fees typically forming the bulk of the donation to the charity. Players are encouraged to Play in Pink on the days and many clubs go to great lengths to increase their donations where they have incorporated new initiatives such as breakfasts/coffee mornings/auctions/sales and locally produced product sales as well as on course initiatives such as ‘buying mulligans’ etc. The days are meant to be fun but all in the spirit of the game and all aimed at generating donations for the charity.