PDGA Brings Back Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative with Throw Pink Partnership

In a heartwarming move, the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) has announced that it will revive its long-running charity initiative for breast cancer awareness in disc golf. Starting this October, the PDGA will donate $2 for every female competitor participating in a C-tier and above tournament worldwide to Throw Pink, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women's health and well-being through disc golf.

This initiative is a revival of a program that was first launched in 2013 as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The PDGA had previously donated $2 for every female competitor participating in sanctioned events during October, with the funds going towards various charities supporting breast cancer research and awareness. The program was last run in 2017.

The partnership between the PDGA and Throw Pink is a testament to the growth and enthusiasm of women's disc golf. According to Sara Nicholson, co-founder of Throw Pink, "We're thrilled to be working with the PDGA on this initiative. Our events provide a safe and welcoming space for women and girls to come together and enjoy disc golf while raising funds for women's health initiatives."

Throw Pink was inspired by The Magnolia Open, a women's only event at the IDGC that has been taking place since 2009. With its mission to encourage women and girls to get physically active through disc golf, Throw Pink has raised over $200,000 for women's cancer initiatives, specifically breast cancer.

The PDGA's charity initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and diversity in the sport. In addition to supporting breast cancer awareness, the organization also offers resources and guidance for clubs and tournaments looking to host their own charity events through its Competition Endowment Program.

Previous iterations of the PDGA's charity initiative saw significant growth in female participation in disc golf events. In 2013, there were 625 female participants in sanctioned events during October, raising a total of $1250 from the PDGA. Prodigy matched this donation by selling special edition pink discs, bringing the total donated to $2500.

In subsequent years, the number of female participants continued to grow, with 682 participants in 2014 and 866 in 2015. The player fees donation to the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) also increased during this time, reaching a total of $11,780 by 2017.

The revival of the PDGA's charity initiative is set to kick off this October, with Throw Pink at the forefront of fundraising efforts. As Sara Nicholson noted, "We're excited to bring this full-circle moment back to life and continue making a difference in the fight against cancer."

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