Bay FC’s Jen Beattie celebrates Lauren Holiday Impact Award with $30,000 donation | OneFootball

Former Scotland International Jen Beattie recently announced a $30,000 donation to Pink Ribbon Good. The 33-year-old was chosen by a voting panel to receive the NWSL’s Lauren Holiday Impact Award, with the grand prize being donated to her charity of choice.

Pink Ribbon Good supports breast and gynaecological cancer patients and their families in six US regions. In addition to the grand prize, Beattie won the NWSL’s fan vote in October. As a result, a further $5,000 was donated to Pink Ribbon Good, and $5,000 was given to Cancer Research UK.

A breast cancer survivor herself, Beattie’s ongoing advocacy was recognised with a MBE in 2023.

Raising Awareness

Since being diagnosed in October 2020, Beattie has continually used her platform to raise awareness and advocate for early detection. Notably, she sought to normalise breast cancer screening during the UK’s COVID-19 lockdowns, when cancer diagnosis rates dropped significantly. While undergoing radio and chemotherapy, Beattie continued to play for both Arsenal and Scotland.

Now in remission, Beattie moved to California’s Bay FC in February 2024. She was quick to partner with Pink Ribbon Good, which provides meals, transportation, essentials, and peer support to cancer patients.

She said: “The reason I wanted to work with Pink Ribbon Good specifically is because they were a local community. I went through my treatment at Arsenal and they completely took care of the day-to-day. This is exactly what this charity does.”

Since arriving in San Francisco, Beattie has hosted community events for the local Pink Ribbon Good chapter, as well as giving the keynote speech at their annual fundraising gala.

Embed from Getty Images

Finding Community

Frequently asked about her decision to go public with her diagnosis, Beattie has expressed a commitment to using her voice.

“I was 29 with no family history when I was diagnosed and it was a brand new experience. A really scary one. I remember a specific conversation that I had with my brother and sister. We made a pact that whenever I got through it, I would use my voice and my platform to try and help other people and raise awareness.

“I understand it’s a very hard thing to talk about, but I found normalising the conversation helped me.”

Related articles from Her Football Hub: