Every year, the White Hills Junior Football Club unites the local Bendigo community in a vibrant celebration with a powerful purpose: Pink Sports Day. This event shines a spotlight on women’s football and raises vital funds for the Otis Foundation and Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Bringing together players, families, supporters, and sponsors, the Pink Sports Day has grown to become a signature fixture on the White Hills Junior Football Club calendar. For the players, donning pink socks, ribbons, and jerseys is not just a show of team unity – it is to raise awareness of early detection and a heartfelt gesture of solidarity to those personally impacted by breast cancer.
Supporting the Otis Foundation and Breast Cancer Network Australia
The Otis Foundation is renowned for providing retreat accommodation to those dealing with the challenges of breast cancer. They provide opportunity for respite for healing, reflection, and renewal. Meanwhile, Breast Cancer Network Australia works tirelessly to advance research, provide support services, and promote early detection and education.
Through the collective efforts of White Hills Junior Football Club and the Bendigo sporting community, the Pink Sports Day raises valuable funds for these organisations through donations, a BBQ and raffles. Every dollar raised during the Pink Sports Day extends hope and practical help to countless Australians.
Game days: August 3rd and 17th 2025
This year, due to poor weather conditions, the Pink Sports Day unfolded over two weekend on the 3rd and the 17th of August. Spectators and teams alike embraced the pink and got in on the fundraising activities alongside the football action:
- August 3rd: The opening weekend set the stage for the Pink Sports Day festivities. Before the first bounce of each game, the teams gathered at the centre of the oval for a group photo symbolising the solidarity of women’s sport. The oval was awash in pink, with players and supporters alike dressed for the occasion. The match atmosphere was lively, punctuated by cheers of encouragement and perfect weather. The day’s games were fiercely contested, but it was the spirit of unity and compassion that truly stood out.
- August 17th: The second weekend heightened the momentum, as the teams returned to the field, this time with the Under 14 boys and Under 16 boys in attendance, determined to continue the fundraising. The boys did an excellent job joining in on the pink hair, face paint and socks. The culmination of the Pink Sports Day saw not just the tallying of scores, but the counting of funds raised – each dollar representing a step closer to a world without breast cancer.
Looking forward: The legacy continues
Looking ahead, the White Hills Junior Football Club is committed to building on the success of the Pink Sports Day. Plans are already underway for 2026 to expand participation and enhance fundraising activities. As more young women take to the field and the community bands together in pink, the future of women’s football in Bendigo looks brighter than ever.
Through every goal scored and every dollar raised, the Pink Sports Day shows what can be achieved when the sporting community come together: a promise that no one faces breast cancer alone, and that every kick, cheer, and act of kindness brings us closer to a cure.
Head to PlayHQ to see the weekly fixtures and results for the White Hills Junior Football Club teams.