Bacchus Marsh women’s football team gives cancer a kicking

The Bacchus Marsh women’s football team is going pink next weekend, come rain or shine.

The team will raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation in their home ground match against Kyneton.

Team manager Rod Bertram says the players are hoping to raise at least $500 for a cause that could affect anyone in the team.

“It’s a platform for us to highlight breast cancer awareness given it’s a women’s sport and it predominantly affects women,” Bertram says.

“Breast cancer could affect one of our players at any stage.”

The players, who will don pink socks and bounce a pink football, are hoping Kyneton players will join their efforts to help fight the disease.

“We [know someone] in the club who has breast cancer and is heading for a double mastectomy,” Bertram says. “She’s coming on the day to have a chat about breast cancer to the women before the game.”

Bertram says a women’s footy match is the perfect platform to highlight issues and raise awareness, as well as raising funds to fight, breast cancer.

The team formed only late last year but already has 24 players, who are aged between 18 and 45.

“It’s a good team-building sport,” Bertram says. “AFL is one of the fastest-growing sports in terms of women’s involvement

“There is no age limit and we don’t discourage anyone from having a go.”