The Play in Pink campaign continues to raise the bar each year in its bid to source vital funds for Breast Cancer Research being carried out at the Lambe Institute, Galway.
Malahide Golf Club has enjoyed a long association with the Play in Pink initiative and it’s a partnership that shows no signs of stopping after another successful pink celebration at the Dublin club this summer.
More than €550,000 was raised by the pink army in 2023 and projections are looking healthy again this year, with Malahide’s superbly supported fundraiser alone hitting the €10,000 mark in June.
“It’s obviously a cause close to many people’s hearts,” says Norma Murphy, Play in Pink Co-Ordinator at Malahide. “The club has been right behind the Play in Pink Day since the start and this year was another great example.
“It’s captured the imagination of the whole club, and the men have been a great support. Of course, Men can be affected by breast cancer too and obviously some have experienced family members dealing with it but they’re great to come on board. We try to make sure they dress in pink so we’ve a prize for the best dressed man on the day and everyone’s embraced it.”
Malahide’s tee-sheet was full for June 18th’s Play in Pink Day across all 27-holes with a nine-hole competition running alongside the main 18-hole event. Around seventy men bolstered a near 300-player turnout with a raffle packed wth great prizes on the day, including classy curated hampers courtesy of Committee member, Yvonne Cleere, as well as prizes from leading sponsor Noel Kelly Auctioneers.
“The generosity of everyone is incredible,” says Murphy. “There’s four of us on the Committee. Yvonne, Denise Furlong, and Louise Young and we all have our roles to play.
“Of course it’s an extremely serious and important charity but we try to have as much fun as possible and it’s great to see the club embrace the pink theme.
“The whole club deserves enormous credit for investing in the occasion. All 27-holes are sponsored on the day and that all adds up very quickly, helping to ensure the day is as impactful as it can be.”
Over two hundred golf clubs have now signed up to Play in Pink, which means there’s still huge scope to see the campaign expand across Ireland and ultimately benefit Breast Cancer Research. No wonder then that Murphy, who’s marvelled at the success of Malahide’s pink revolution, wants to urge other clubs to do the same.
“Sign up, definitely,” she says. “You can put as much or as little as you want into it but the Play in Pink Committee will be there to advise you. They’ll give you a big box of prizes to give out and they’ll be so appreciative of any contribution.
“The day doesn’t run itself but we’ve found a formula that seems to work and we love being involved. We all get together for a big dinner in the evening and the whole club shares in the feel-good factor of the day.
“It’s an incredibly rewarding experience and if any club was hesitating about whether or not to do it, I’d be more than happy to help with any information they need to get started.
“We’ve found a lot of our members have had breast cancer and they will all say that golf club people are so fantastic. They really get involved and encourage them to come up for lunch or coffee even if they’re not playing.
“There’s great friendship in golf clubs that comes to the fore for days like these. It’s fantastic to be part of it.”
- To see the full schedule of Play in Pink Days remaining for 2024, CLICK HERE
- To join over 200 clubs and register for a Play in Pink Day, CLICK HERE