Pink is the New Orange

One in seven women will have to confront breast cancer at least once in their lives. Many more women will also come into contact with the disease through a relative, coworker, or friend. This illness is all too familiar even to our athletes and idols, as in the case of the Belwanus twin sisters and Vanity Lewerissa, all women close to our beloved Netherlands women's national soccer team. The Orange Lionesses launched the ‘Orange for Pink’ campaign, and both the Norwegian and Dutch national teams decided to wear the pink ribbon during their respective national anthems before the friendly played on October 11, 2022. The pink ribbon is a symbol that expresses their support for breast cancer research, early detection, and treatment.

Naturally, as October begins, the importance of the fight against breast cancer is highlighted, but this year the Lionesses were affected on a far more personal level. The national team’s physical therapist, Kim Belwanus, has been working with the athletes for many years, but because of breast cancer, she had to take time off during this year’s international window. Even more chilling is that her sister, a physical therapist for the Ajax women’s soccer team, had also been diagnosed with breast cancer not long before. The disease did not stop there, as Dutch international Vanity Lewerissa was also diagnosed with breast cancer this year, demonstrating just how common and how indiscriminate this illness truly is.

Women’s soccer has grown considerably, and it is a great platform for raising awareness of and bringing attention to an issue of this magnitude. MatchWornShirt wants to express its support for the Pink Ribbon charity and the Orange for Pink campaign by auctioning two match-worn, signed jerseys from the October 11 game. The two jerseys available on the platform are those of fan favorites Danielle van de Donk and Jackie Groenen. This gives people around the world the chance to own a truly unique piece of Lionesses history and, most importantly, to support an essential global campaign.

Head to the auction to own the moment and show your support.