22 Mar 2024 – New Zealand Curling is proud to support the 'Curlers Wear Pink' campaign initiated by Foxglide Sportswear to raise awareness of Breast Cancer at the current BKT Tires World Women's Championship, and at the World Championships to come later this season.

The NZ and Danish teams are wearing pink shirts in some games at this event as a part of this campaign.

Foxglide Sportswear has partnered with some of the world's leading curling athletes to raise awareness of the risks and prevention of Breast Cancer. By wearing pink during the 2024 World Curling Championships, the athletes will bring attention to Breast Cancer, which affects 1 in 7 women and is prevalent in each of the 73 member countries of World Curling.

The team at Foxglide have recently had first-hand experience of the trauma of breast cancer. Sarah Mitchell, the wife of owner Alan, was diagnosed with DCIS breast cancer at the age of 41. Due to her family history, she had attended regular Mammograms from age 35. Sarah's non-invasive cancer was detected early; she underwent surgery in Scotland in 2022 before the cancer had any chance to spread. Sarah also tested positive for the BRCA2 gene, which was discovered in a hereditary cancer risk test.

Alan commented, "Sarah's close monitoring of her health ensured that any risk of cancer was caught early, and her proactive surgery removed the risk of any future occurrence. Her strength and bravery were exceptional, and we now want to ensure that we send a message of cancer awareness to the curling community".

Kiwi skip Jess Smith added, "As a health professional and someone who has seen close family and friends affected by breast cancer, I am proud to be involved with this breast cancer awareness campaign. Awareness creates knowledge, and knowledge is power. If we can help just one person, we have made a difference".

Following this event, Teams New Zealand and Germany will wear pink at the LGT World Men's Curling Championship in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, highlighting that men, particularly with genetic mutations, can also develop breast cancer.

At the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Östersund, Sweden, teams from New Zealand and Spain will wear pink to highlight the strength and resilience often required by partners or loved ones in the face of cancer.

NZ Curling feels privileged to be part of this campaign to raise awareness of Breast Cancer and would like to thank Alan and Sarah from Foxglide for their continued support of our teams, especially during the past couple of years when they were going through this tumultuous time. It is a fabulous initiative that we are excited to support.

In 2020, 2.3 million* women were diagnosed with breast cancer and there were 685,000 deaths globally. Most people will not experience any symptoms when the cancer is still early. Breast cancer can have combinations of symptoms, especially when it is more advanced.

Awareness and early detection of breast cancer can have a significant effect on the survival rate. Early detection can include:

• self-examination to look for any unusual lumps
• annual mammograms (available in most countries to women over the age of 40 years)
• genetic testing

Family history of breast cancer increases the risk of breast cancer and early screening for genetic mutations including BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM Gene and PALB-2 may help with any preventive decisions, and to ensure close monitoring.

* Data from World Health Organisation

NZ v Sweden