Disc Golf Community Rallies Together to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

This October, the disc golf community came together to support a great cause. The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) revived its annual fundraiser for breast cancer awareness, donating $2 to Throw Pink for each competitor playing in a gender-based division at a C-tier and above tournament worldwide. And what an amazing response it was! With 3,731 instances of this happening, the total donation came out to be a staggering $7,462.

The initiative aimed not only to raise funds but also to encourage more women to take part in disc golf events. And boy, did they succeed! Sparkle Open, a women's only C-tier in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had an impressive 73 female players, the highest number of any event that month. Women and girls from all over the country – Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington – came together to show their skills on the course.

But it wasn't just about the numbers; the events themselves were a testament to the community's spirit. The 2nd Crested Crane Classic Championship in Uganda had an impressive 29 junior girl competitors, while Latitude 64 Jõulumäe Open by DG Academy in Estonia had a total of 34 women and girls participating.

In Latin America, Build it and They Will Come Anniversary in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico was the most well-attended event with 13 women playing. The celebration included two events: "Massive Skins" on October 18th followed by the PDGA-sanctioned "Build it and They Will Come" on Saturday October 19th.

The month of October saw a total of 843 PDGA-sanctioned events worldwide, with 627 of those events having women playing in them. The diversity of events was incredible – from Elite Series to XC/C-tier, team events to doubles events. The most popular master's division had 758 players, while the largest junior player group consisted of 203 young golfers.

The community came together to support this initiative in countless ways. Gabi Sigafoo ran a doubles tournament, Jinkies at Jenkins - Scooby Dooby Doubles, which had ten women playing in gender-based divisions, along with costume contests, ace races, CTPs, raffles, and BBQ. Tournament Director Kristin Reeves hosted Drive to USWDGC Tournament Series #1: Bullitt County, which aimed to raise money for the entry cost of Kentucky ladies competing at the 2025 USWDGC.

The response from around the world was truly remarkable. The United States had the most competitors with 2,611 women and girls participating, followed closely by Canada, Finland, Germany, Czechia, Estonia, New Zealand, and more.

But it's not just about the numbers; the stories of individual players are what make this initiative truly special. Maile Brito, an FJ12 player from Puerto Rico, played in one event that month and is one of only seven women or girls who are current PDGA members on the island. The Davis sisters, Brynn and Avelyn, played in tournaments to support their Nana battling breast cancer.

The disc golf community's generosity and dedication to this cause are truly inspiring. As Sara Nicholson, Founder of Throw Pink, said, "Thank you for choosing Throw Pink for the first year, kicking this amazing initiative back off. I’m honored beyond words." The PDGA's fundraiser may be over for this year, but its impact will be felt long after.

The PDGA Competition Endowment Program (CEP) allows Tournament Directors to hold events with the purpose of raising funds for a 501(c)3 or other charity. With 17 CEP events having women participants in October, it's clear that this initiative is making a real difference.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/2024bca-donate