The Bristol Blues will once again abandon its traditional colors for one night this summer in honor of breast cancer survivors.
The fourth annual Pink Night will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, at Muzzy Field, where the Blues will take on the Pittsfield Suns. The event not only raises awareness about breast cancer and celebrates survivors, but it also raises money for Bristol Hospital’s Beekley Center for Breast Health and Wellness.
“The Blues have generously been doing this ever since 2015, since they’ve been in town,” said Christopher Boyle, spokesman for Bristol Hospital.
As part of the event, Bristol Hospital will have a group of Beekley Center staff, breast cancer patients and survivors, as well as hospital leadership throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. This group includes Dr. Sai Varanasi, the medical director of the Beekley Center for Breast Health and Wellness, and Kathy Albano, the clinical coordinator and breast health navigator of the center.
During the game, the Blues players will don pink uniforms and use pink bats, both of which will be auctioned off after the contest. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. The money from both efforts will be donated to Beekley.
Since the first Pink Night, Boyle said, the Blues have helped raise more than $4,000 for Beekley.
“It’s really a great event,” Boyle said. “We really appreciate everything the Blues do.”
Boyle said hospital officials are always proud of the expert care delivered at Beekley in a spa-like setting.
“They do a wonderful and extraordinary job,” Boyle said of the staff at the Beekley Center for Breast Health and Wellness.
“This is all the blues,” Boyle said of Pink Night, adding that team leadership approached the hospital four years ago about doing something like this.
The relationship between the team and the hospital goes beyond Pink Night, as the Bristol Hospital sports medicine program is the official health provider to the Bristol Blues.
“We have a great relationship with the team,” Boyle said. “They’ve really embedded themselves in the community.”
“We’re always thankful for Pink Night.”