Central Coast Mariners players Kim Seung-yong and Michael Neill today helped launch the Club’s special pink Kappa playing kits to be worn for Hyundai A-League 2014/15 round 2 against Wellington Phoenix.
For the third season in a row, the Mariners will dedicate a Hyundai A-League matchday to supporting Pink Ribbon Day – an annual initiative organised by Australia’s Cancer Council.
Pink Ribbon Day helps raise funds for women’s cancer research, prevention and support services, and in 2014 their goal is to raise $9.47 million nationally, and $3.66 million in New South Wales alone.
Since 2012, the Mariners have helped raise over $40,000 for the Cancer Council by making a vibrant, visual statement on the pitch by donning pink kits, followed by an online auction of the jerseys signed by the whole squad.
Indeed, in a major boost for the Mariners, Brightfield Integrated Facilities Management have also pledged their support to the Club’s ‘Pink Day’ initiative for the next two seasons.
Brightfield – who offer flexible, specialist facilities management solutions tailored to each individual client and business – will not only have their brand appear on the next two editions of the Club’s pink kits, but donate $10 from the sale of each special edition jersey to Cancer Council NSW.
Brightfield’s NSW Business Development Manager, Daniel Campbell, said the company is delighted to have partnered with the Mariners in the name of a great cause.
“Both Brightfield and the Mariners have always had their base on the Central Coast, and we are both celebrating our tenth birthdays this year,” Campbell said.
“We are proud to be the Pink Day sponsor – our office has been touched by cancer so to have the opportunity to sponsor the Mariners and support the Cancer Council is something that really means a lot to Brightfield.”
“We did have a look at a number of sponsorship deals with a number of different clubs and codes, but we kept coming back to the Mariners. They have enjoyed enormous success over the last ten years but they have never lost their grounding – the fans still remain the real focus. Brightfield has that same focus and commitment to the same people that have supported us over the last ten years,” he said.
In NSW alone, an average of 16 women are diagnosed with a breast or a gynaecological cancer every day, highlighting how widespread an issue the illness is among the community.
Cancer Council NSW Community Engagement Manager – Hunter & Central Coast, Sarah Russell, said her organisation is pleased to have extended their association with the Mariners.
“Cancer Council NSW is proud to be the charity partner for the third year for the Central Coast Mariners’ Pink Ribbon Day game,” Russell said.
“Central Coast Mariners and their fans have already raised over $40,000 over the past two years for Cancer Council NSW. These funds go towards research, support and prevention programs for people in our community living with the cancer.”
“Cancer Council NSW is an independent cancer charity that receives no government funding, so we are truly blessed to have a partnership with the Mariners – we can’t thank them enough for their support,” she concluded.
Central Coast Mariners will have a limited number of pink kits available for sale to fans at the Club’s Hyundai A-League 2014/15 round 2 clash with Wellington Phoenix on Saturday 18 October in Gosford.
Supporters can find out more about Brightfield Integrated Facilities Management by visiting www.brightfield.com.au, or learn more about Pink Ribbon Day by navigating to www.pinkribbon.com.au.