(FREDERICTON, NB) UNB’s 2023 Stewart-McKelvey Think Pink Week was a success.

The week-long effort in support of U SPORTS Shoot for the Cure and the Canadian Cancer Society raised $9803.46.

“I was hoping we’d raise $10,000, but we’re not disappointed with raising over $9800,” said Jeff Speedy, the head coach of the REDS women’s basketball team and the project manager for the national Shoot for the Cure initiative. “All of the teams involved and our reps from Athlete’s Council were really engaged and helped make this year’s Think Pink Week another successful one.”

While UNB’s women’s hockey team, women’s and men’s volleyball teams, and women’s and men’s basketball team played Think Pink-themed games, other teams supported the effort by running raffles and other fund-raising efforts for fans attending those games.

The more than $9800 raised at UNB will become part of the national effort to raise at least $100,000 dollars in 2023. The money raised by REDS student-athletes will benefit Cancer Society efforts and programs in New Brunswick.

Along with fund-raising, seven REDS student-athletes cut their hair for a program that creates wigs for women who’ve lost hair during cancer treatments.

“It meant a lot to me,” said Emily Wezeman, a member of the REDS women’s volleyball team. “My Mom fought breast cancer in 2017. She’s more than five-years cancer-free, thankfully, but it was special for me to take part in something like this. I know how much it can mean for people who’ve battled cancer to feel like themselves again, even if it’s something as small as having some hair back.”

The seven student-athletes who cut and donated their hair also solicited donations, which helped bring UNB’s total to almost $10,000.

It was also personal for Katie Butts, a member of Coach Speedy’s women’s basketball team.

“My grandmother has been fighting brain cancer for over a year now,” she said. “She loves watching our games and supporting me, so this was another way for me to support her.”

Long-time REDS corporate partner Stewart-McKelvey is the primary sponsor of UNB’s Think Pink Week.

Coach Speedy says the week wouldn’t be what it is without the law firm.

“I can’t thank Stewart-McKelvey enough,” he said. “Their continued support, and everyone from REDS Nation who donated to one of our initiatives, is very much appreciated.”

“I always look forward to attending UNB’s Think Pink Weekend,” said Stewart-McKelvey’s Brittany Trafford. “It is our pleasure to be involved as a sponsor. UNB does a wonderful job putting on this event, and it’s for such an important cause. It’s always fun to see the REDS in action.”

U SPORTS’ Shoot for the Cure was established in 2007 and participation in the national effort has become a tradition at UNB.

As the REDS celebrate the success of Think Pink ’23, they’re already looking forward to next year.

“I look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come,” said Wezeman.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics