Yarn-bombing celebrates the start of Pink Week

The St Catharine’s community is celebrating the start of Pink Week 2022 (7–13 February) by yarn-bombing the two beech trees at the front of the College on Trumpington Street.

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 knitted and crocheted hearts, ribbons and other motifs in shades of pink will adorn these trees from today until the weekend.

Professor Sir Mark Welland (2016), Master of St Catharine’s, commented:

“I am proud that St Catharine’s students have been channelling their kindness and creativity into preparations for Pink Week 2022. I hope the wider Cambridge community will take a moment to enjoy the yarn-bombing display as they pass St Catharine’s this week and feel inspired to find out more about breast cancer and Pink Week.”

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

With the easing of Plan B restrictions, there has been greater freedom to plan in-person events and activities for Pink Week 2022. On top of the yarn-bombing, St Catharine’s students are organising themed fundraising activities, including a film night, a bake sale and social events. The chosen charities for this year are Breast Cancer UK, Teenage Cancer Trust, CoppaFeel! and Future Dreams.

Eloise Matthews, a third-year Natural Sciences undergraduate and President of the St Catharine’s Yarn Society, explained:

"Members of Catz Yarn Society have been sharing ideas and creating contributions for the display for the last few weeks, and we have also encouraged the wider Catz community to take part. We have knitted or crocheted over 50 different items for the display, which I hope will be an eye-catching way to encourage passers-by to contemplate the meaning and spirit of Pink Week! We also intend to sell any items that remain in reasonable condition after being exposed to the elements, with proceeds going to the Pink Week charities.”

Annie Chown, a first-year Music undergraduate and Pink Week representative for St Catharine’s, added:

"The Pink Week committee has worked so hard to organise a fantastic range of events to fundraise and raise awareness for our four breast cancer charities. Each year, three pillars are chosen to reflect the goals of the week and the pillars for 2022 are educate, donate and support. The thoughtful display created by our Yarn Society is just one of the ways the St Catharine’s community is working together to achieve these goals.”

Pink Week 2021 coincided with a national lockdown so St Catharine’s chose to light up its boathouse in pink to inspire the Cambridge community to find out more about breast cancer and how charities are working to prevent and treat the disease.

1. NHS. Breast cancer in women. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer/. Last accessed 1 February 2022.