MELBOURNE on behalf of the Breast Cancer Network Australia launched the Field of Women 2014 in front of more than 500 people at a breakfast held at the MCG on Tuesday morning.

The club and BCNA are calling on Melbourne supporters and the general community to stand as one of the 15,000 people on the MCG, as part of the Field of Women on May 10 – before the round eight match between the Demons and Bulldogs. Melbourne has also launched a specially designed pink jumper and socks for the night game.

Coach Paul Roos and his wife Tami were in attendance as official ambassadors of the event. Co-captains Jack Grimes and Nathan Jones were also at the launch to lend their support.

The club and BCNA are encouraging men to stand in support of their loved ones on the field in the shape of the now renowned ‘Pink Lady’, as breast cancer affects entire families, with more than 15,200 women and 125 men diagnosed each year. Every day, 42 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer and seven will lose their lives to the disease. The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has increased by around 50 per cent in the 15 years since BCNA was established in 1998.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou called on everyone – no matter who they support – to come along to the event.

“Breast Cancer Network Australia is a longstanding community partner of the AFL and together with Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs football clubs, we encourage AFL fans and all members of the community to take part in the Field of Women event,” he said.

“Field of Women sends a powerful message of community and the AFL is proud to be involved in such a special and significant event, which brings thousands of people together in support of Australians affected by breast cancer.”

BCNA chief executive Maxine Morand said it was an unforgettable experience to take part in the Field of Women.

“I was invited to take part in the Field of Women in 2010, when I was Victorian minister for women’s affairs and took along a close friend, who was a breast cancer survivor. I was really overwhelmed by the emotional impact of the event,” she said.

But in 2011, Morand was diagnosed with breast cancer and later became CEO of BCNA.

“Standing on the Field of Women this year with my friends and family will take on a whole new meaning after my breast cancer experience. For me, it offers an opportunity to reflect on my own cancer experience and stand with others who have been affected or who have lost someone they love,” she said.

Tickets for Field of Women 2014 are on sale now and cost $55. The ticket price includes a pink poncho, backpack and entry to the game. All proceeds from tickets go to BCNA to ensure it can continue its work supporting Australians with breast cancer and their families.

The concept for the Field of Women came to BCNA’s founding CEO Lyn Swinburne as she flew out of Canberra and envisaged planting thousands of Pink Lady silhouettes on the lawns of Parliament House. Each silhouettes would represent a women diagnosed with breast cancer. In 1998, Swinburne’s vision became a reality with the first Field of Women held in Canberra at Parliament House.

Since then, this event has become a powerful, visual symbol for women and men affected by breast cancer and their supporters. Field of Women has been planted all over Australia and communities host Mini-Fields of Women to pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer.

In 2005, the concept was taken to a new level with silhouettes replaced by real people donning hot pink ponchos and standing shoulder to shoulder on the MCG in Melbourne. Similar events were held at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium in 2007 and the MCG in 2010.

Tickets for Field of Women 2014 are on sale now and cost$55. The ticket price includes a pink poncho, backpack and entry to the game.All proceeds from tickets go to BCNA to ensure it can continue its worksupporting Australians with breast cancer and their families. To buy a ticket,click here.