WTA Unveils ‘Aceing Cancer’ Campaign For Breast Cancer Awareness Month

WTA Charities has launched its “Aceing Cancer” campaign with a month of activities throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

“We are thrilled to announce the WTA’s first global philanthropic campaign,” said Ann Austin, WTA Senior Director of Community Development. “So many of our players, tournaments, partners and friends are engaged in charitable initiatives that the WTA is pleased to be able to support through donations and in-kind gifts.”

To kick off the campaign, WTA players, including Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova, Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, Ashleigh Barty, Kiki Bertens, and Petra Kvitova have recorded a breast cancer awareness PSA which is available on WTA’s social media platforms.

The first event which WTA Charities will sponsor in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the Pretty In Pink Charity Tennis Tournament on October 5-6 in Clearwater, FL in close proximity to WTA’s global headquarters in St. Petersburg, FL. All proceeds from the event will benefit Women With Purpose, a local nonprofit that assists cancer patients with basic daily living expenses.

In Asia, WTA Charities will support Think Pink, an annual tennis and yoga event organized by the American Club of Hong Kong on October 14, benefiting the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition, through the Tianjin Open’s charitable support of breast cancer, the WTA has donated a VIP weekend package to the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen to be auctioned off by the Tianjin International Community Center (TICC) at its 10th annual Pink Ribbon Gala on October 26. The Gala proceeds are directed to a local cancer hospital.

During the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen, three “Aceing Cancer” initiatives will offer fundraising opportunities as well as heighten awareness. The first activity will include a WTA “Aceing Cancer” clinic to bring attention to breast cancer awareness. In addition, a special WTA “Aceing Cancer” wristband will be sold throughout the week at the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen with all proceeds going to a local breast cancer organization in Shenzhen. Additionally, WTA Charities will make a donation for every ace served throughout the tournament to support the American Cancer Society (ACS). Through a partnership with ACS and the Cancer Research Racquet, an international organization of business professionals who love the game of tennis and raise money to fund cancer researchers, monies raised through this initiative will support a researcher focused on cancers that most impact women.

In addition to the activities during October, WTA Charities has committed donations to various cancer-related organizations including Plooschter Projet which is being recognized by the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open to encourage stem cell donations and registration, and the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore, for which WTA Charities funded the first tennis therapy program for breast cancer survivors.

“These are several of the important initiatives of WTA Charities which are directed to “Aceing Cancer,” explained Austin. “The mission of WTA Charities is to promote health and wellness, and we are committed year-round to our goal of improving lives whenever we can make a difference.”