New Haven Open Continues Breast Cancer Awareness Campaigns

Includes a run/walk fundraiser, pink ribbon merchandise, etc.

By Erwin Ong

2012 New Haven Open Pink Ribbon T-Shirt on display

(August 24, 2012) -- TICKLED PINK: We’re normally not one for Pepto-themed affairs, but the organizers of the New Haven Open’s breast cancer awareness campaign tastefully incorporates this pastel into its efforts at the 2012 edition of its tournament.

What caught our eye was this use of the pink breast cancer ribbon on an otherwise simple New Haven Open shirt.

Along with this sleek shout-out at the merch tent, the tournament, led by tournament director Anne Worcester, also had a few other campaigns, including an limited-run ticket drive that discounted tickets (allowing more fans to access top-level WTA play) and donating part of the ticket proceeds to the Smilow Cancer Hospital Breast Center at Yale; the funds were backed by a matching donation from First Niagara bank.

In addition, the tournament put a pink CYBEX treadmill prominently on display on the event grounds. The machine is part of the CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run, which offers players, fans, sponsors and media the opportunity to walk or run on a special pink treadmill to raise funds for breast cancer. For every mile logged, donations will be made to the Smilow Breast Center. Varvara Lepchenko, Andrea Petkovic, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Petra Kvitova (above) all contributed to the run. The pink treadmill has been autographed by WTA players and celebs, and will be auctioned off after the end of the tournament.

More: Info about the New Haven Open (t-shirt image by Tennis Now; Kvitova photo via)

(Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik)