This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bristol chapter.

Today marks the beginning of Bristol Pink Week 2017. Pink Week, now in its third year in Bristol, is a series of events that run throughout the week with the aim of raising money and awareness for various breast cancer charities in a fun and colourful way.

The Week is a student-led initiative begun by Nina Rauch in 2011 at her Haberdasher’s Askes School for Girls, in celebration of her mother, the late Dina Rabinovitch. Rauch brought the idea to the University of Cambridge where she became a fresher in 2013, and since then Pink Week has taken off, with Pink Weeks taking place all over the UK and even the US; Oxford, Durham, Birmingham, Sussex, the University of California in Los Angeles, and of course our very own Bristol. The charity initiative raised £24 000 last year and has declared a target of £30 000 this year, with all the money going towards breast cancer care and research. The president of the Pink Week 2017 organising committee, Talia Goldman, describes it as ‘a genderless initiative that seeks to break down barriers around breast cancer and to join students across the country in the fight to eliminate this disease once and for all’.

What many see as the pinnacle of Pink Week is the Cambridge Pink Week ball, a black tie event where you can dance the night away in a beautifully decorated venue filled with fun activities, unlimited delicious food and an open bar. With tickets going for £95, it is bound not only to be a brilliant night, but moreover a huge contributor towards the Pink Week £30 000 goal. This year it’s taking place on the 2nd of February; you can find tickets and more information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/681817691985656/

While Bristol Pink Week may not have a ball, the committee have definitely got a line up of fun events that we’re sure you’ll want to know about (plus if you haven’t already seen their collaboration with the Bristol RAG in the form of a naked charity calendar, featuring Bristol’s favourite sports societies, it’s definitely something to check out!). Below is a schedule of Bristol’s Pink Week events (we hope to see you there!):

Monday:

LAUNCH NIGHT @ The White Rabbit

Feat. live music from Ella Martin, Spang Sisters and Push Push Malcolm and more! @ 8pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/338615256537791/

Tuesday:

SCRATCH NIGHT @ The Room Above (the White Bear)

Comedy, new writing, songs and more @ 7pm

Wednesday:

PINK TALKS @ The Hawthorns

Feat. breast cancer surgeon Ms. Vestey from Gloucester Hospital, Bristol’s own Professor of Experimental Oncology – Professor Paraskeva & the wonderful Jo, a breast cancer survivor @ 6pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/389104868092938/

PUB QUIZ @ The Lansdown

£2.50 entry for their weekly, cracking pub quiz @ 8pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/389382948078213/

Thursday:

COFFEE BREAK @ The Balloon Bar

Come and talk about your boobs! Do you know how to check them? Do you want to know more about what we do? Free cake? @ 4pm – 6pm

Friday:

PINK LUNCH @ The Multifaith Chaplaincy!

Pink themed menu… @ 12.30 pm

FILM NIGHT @ The Arts House @ 6pm

If you want all of this schedule in a sweet little video summary, head here: https://app.biteable.com/watch/bristol-pink-week-2017-1245567/