On Saturday, June 15, Moreland City FC will hold its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Event. This year, the Club aims to honour the community in a more inclusive and celebratory manner than ever before.
In recent years, senior players have marked the occasion by wearing pink socks. However, in 2024, the Club will also don custom-designed jerseys created by Peek Whurrong woman Bayley Misfud.
Moreland City FC Events Coordinator, Christina Galdamez, explained that after hearing personal stories from community members, it became clear the Club needed a way to unify those affected. The Club also wanted to represent Indigenous community members and promote inclusivity and togetherness.
"Football is a unifying force globally, nationally, and locally. We felt that building an event around this cause would perfectly marry message and meaning," she said.
"Bayley's involvement was the springboard from which our whole community was inspired to make the event as welcoming and enjoyable as possible."
Creating the custom kit required extensive logistical discussions. Football Victoria, UMBRO, and numerous sponsors collaborated with the shared goal of creating a powerful visual representation of the cause.
"We are incredibly appreciative of the time Bayley was able to donate. She is extremely busy and successful, and her contribution means a lot to us," Galdamez added.
Breast cancer awareness was chosen by Moreland City because the disease has touched many families within the Club and community.
"It means a lot to the Club and to me personally, as my husband lost his mother at a very young age to the disease. Those affected are never far from our hearts," Galdamez said. "A phrase that reflects the emotion of the event is: 'support the fighters, admire the survivors, and honour the taken'."
The Club has also organised several activities for the day, including:
- A Smoking Ceremony
- The National Anthem performed by a young local singer
- An Instagram-worthy Acai Truck
- Face painting for kids
- A catered lunch for sponsors and community members
Moreland City hopes the event will continue to grow and in future years they can accommodate Breast Screen Victoria to provide a screening truck for the day.
This year’s event promises to be a heartfelt celebration of community, resilience, and the power of football to bring people together for a meaningful cause.