The St Catharine’s community is again celebrating the start of Pink Week (6–12 February) with a colourful display at the front of the College, with a return of the yarn-bombing first seen in 2022.
Yarn chicken demonstrating College pride
Yarn elephant
Yarn-bombing is a type of street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre. With special permission from the College leadership and led by the St Catharine’s Yarn Society, an array of items relevant to breast cancer awareness have been knitted and crocheted in shades of pink by students.
Pink Week is a week of events organised by students at the University of Cambridge to raise money and awareness for breast cancer charities. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, devastating the lives of sufferers and their loved ones. About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, but there is a good chance of recovery if it's detected at an early stage.1
Annie Chown, a second-year Music undergraduate and the St Catharine’s Pink Week representative, commented:
“Pink Week raises funds and awareness for breast cancer charities aiming to bring together and support those whose lives have been affected by it. Many people at Catz have worked really hard over the past few months to organise an exciting range of events that can appeal to everyone in our community; this artistic display by the Yarn Society is just one of the ways in which we hope to demonstrate support and raise awareness for such a great cause!”
Students involved in the Pink Week 2023 yarnbombing at St Catharine's
Due to ongoing restoration work to the front lawn and planting at the very front of the College on Trumpington Street, this year’s display is focused on the two Ceanothus shrubs (commonly known as California Lilac) positioned either side of the College’s main gates.
Other activities planned by Annie and others at St Catharine’s include:
Pink Week Charity formal hall dinners: 8 February for undergraduates, 9 February for postgraduates
A life-drawing session organised for Pink Week with Lifelines: 9 February in the Rushmore Room at St Catharine’s (8–10pm)
‘Feeling Funky’ bop: 12 February in the College Bar (8.30–11pm)
Plus fundraising through the delivery of Valentine’s sweet bags and an auction of yarn-bombing items
