The ‘Biggest Contribution from a Charity Society’ is awarded to a charity affiliated society whose members have freely given a significant amount of their time to their cause throughout the year, as well as raising a significant amount for their charitable cause.
Tickled Pink have had an outstanding year! Their nominations in the absolute quantity and quality have backed this up. Each nomination went onto commend the assortment of activities run by the group, the dedication and inclusivity of the committee, and the overall atmosphere the group has created to form its very own blossoming community.
Tickled Pink represents two charities, CoppaFeel! and Breast Cancer Care – Cymru. CoppaFeel! is a breast cancer awareness charity which exists to educate and remind every young person in the UK that checking their boobs isn’t only fun, it could save their life. Breast Cancer Care – Cymru, is then the follow on, they are there for anyone affected by breast cancer. They bring people together, provide information and support, and campaign for improved standards of care.
The group have taken their role in awareness raising seriously. They have rolled out nonstop PSA’s about breast cancer across the university, at socials, in night clubs, in pubs and among student groups. You name it and they have been there! Their social media content is constantly filled with fun and interactive activities, all with the goal of spreading awareness. They are masters at talking about a serious message in a light-hearted way. When they are out on campus you cannot miss them with their MASSIVE boob spreading awareness wherever they go. The group is destroying the stigma of embarrassment when talking about the subject; they want to ensure individuals (no matter what gender) regularly check their boobs/pecs.
Inclusivity has been a key feature of many student groups this year. Tickled Pink were at the forefront of this ensuring every “guy, gal and non-binary pal” was welcomed, included, and educated on all aspects of Tickled Pink and what they stand for.
“Tickled Pink is also a community who, at the beginning of the year, began with 4 committee members, glitter and hope, and from day 1 gave it their all. As a result the society has blossomed and now has nearly 30 active members; they are all such amazing people (Guys, Gals & Non Binary pals) and really do work hard to spread boob love, materials and awareness around campus and town!” – Anonymous nominator
Outstandingly the group has raised over £2,000 for the group's affiliated charities. This has made them the number 1 group (out of 60) for fundraising across the CoppaFeel! network. Raising this money was no easy task. The committee put on a variety of inclusive and diverse events, all with a unique Tickled Pink twist. Notable mentions include their Booby Bingo, their Big Pink Quiz which saw over 100 people attend, and their Tuesday night socials, where they meet up to socialise and catch up on the latest boob news. The group are infamous on campus and around town for holding their Glitter Parties and UV Nights at local night clubs. At these events they raise hundreds of pounds for their charities, but equally crucial they hand out materials to spread their message further.
Their most impressive annual fundraising activity is their naked calendar. This calendar is not only an additional way their go about fundraising, it promotes body positivity for all students. Across an entire day and four different locations, they shot the calendar with a photographer and 11 different sports clubs and societies. Collaboration at its finest!
Following on the theme of collaboration they hosted multiple Boob Schools. This is where they join in on a training session with a club and provide a talk about checking for signs and symptoms of breast cancer. They have really expanded their outreach to engage as many students as possible.
Some of our personal highlights with the group was them helping at the first ever Aber Challenge. Alongside the Dodgeball Club, Tickled Pink hosted a giant game of BOOB BALL. The game seen 18 teams go head to head, in a knockout tournament of high-speed flying boob balls. Tickled Pink also worked with the SU on ‘Wear it Pink Day’. This day saw Tickled Pink setting up a stall in the SU, and SU staff wearing pink to raise awareness of breast cancer.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the passion of both Tickled Pink's members and committee. The extent the committee have gone to when organise events has not gone unnoticed. The utter quality and diversity of what they have offered over the past year has been reflected in their achievements both internally and externally. It is undeniable that the committee has worked hard to make Tickled Pink a well-known name across campus.
“The whole society, and especially the committee, work really hard and give so much of their time to organise events and socials to make sure everyone is having a good time while raising money and awareness for breast cancer. The committee are all in their last year of university, but they still give 110% all the time. I think it's really admirable and I think they really deserve this award.” – Anonymous nominator
Everyone at the SU just wants to take a moment to honour Sophie Williams, and pass on our condolences to her family and friends. Sophie founded Tickled Pink while studying Law at Aberystwyth back in 2006. She stayed in regular contact with the group, providing her continued support all along. The group noted the tireless work Sophie put in to ensure the society was a success, a legacy that has lived on and continues in the group. Tickled Pink are doing amazing work amongst our student community and we cannot wait to see what they get up to next.
Why not get involved yourself? Check out Tickled Pink here:
Email: scty249@aber.ac.uk
Website: https://www.abersu.co.uk/society/ubttickledpink/
Facebook: @Abertickledpink
Instagram: @abertickledpink
