Pink October kicked off to a great start yesterday in a joint effort between the Cook Islands Football Association and the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation to host a ‘She Shines’ Football Festival at the CIFA Complex.

She Shines Football Festival, an event run by Girl Power was held yesterday at the CIFA complex as part of one of many initiatives that will take place this month dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer.

Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation was chuffed when asked if they wanted to have a presence at the festival

At the same time after hearing that the theme was Pink October in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness month, CIFA shared that getting involved was a “no brainer”.

The honour of officially opening yesterday’s festival went to fellow foundation board member Mata Pera, who, after welcoming the young ones to CIFA and thanking the organisers, kicked a football in the direction of CIFA officials.

Pera also accepted a donation from festival organiser and CIFA women’s development officer, Tupou Patia-Brogan on behalf of CIBCF.

Patia-Brogan said it had not been the first festival, but the first one dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer alongside CIBCF.

“The purpose of this festival is to show our support and love for those who have gone through breast cancer or for those who have had a loved one go through breast cancer.

“I’m pleased to see that parents have shown their support for breast cancer by bringing their kids,” she said.

Essentially the festival aimed to show support for breast cancer while at the same time promote football and give the young ones something to do on a hot day with the school holidays just recently kicking off.

“October is the most important month of the year for CIBCF.

“Raising awareness about the signs and symptoms, self-checks and of course going for regular mammograms are the keys to saving lives.

“And to that end it was great to see the recent series of clinics co-ordinated by the Cook Islands Child Welfare Association so well attended.”

Unfortunately, closed borders had meant the breast screening team who for 11 years had come annually to do mammograms has not been able to get here, said foundation board member Jaewynn McKay

“It’s always a pleasure to see our future – young girls and boys – running around being active, practicing their football moves and just enjoying the company of each other.”