A SCOTTISH sportswear company has partnered with some of the world’s leading athletes within the sport of curling to raise awareness of the risks and prevention of breast cancer.

Foxglide Sportswear - based in Troon, Ayrshire - has supplied curling uniforms throughout the sport for more than 10 years. Owner Alan Mitchell along with wife Sarah decided to raise awareness on the two-year anniversary of Sarah's surgery for DCIS breast cancer at the age of 41 with a unique and international campaign.

Alan said he was "privileged to have personal contacts on nearly every team at the world international level" and dozens are now partnering with the couple for the coming season.

Pink shirts are already on show, worn by Team Denmark and Team New Zealand at the Women’s World Championship in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada - with Team Scotland wearing ribbons along with 11 of the 13 teams competing.

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Team New Zealand and Team Germany will wear pink at the World Men's Curling Championship in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, highlighting that men, particularly with genetic mutations, can also develop breast cancer.

At the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Östersund, Sweden teams from Spain and New Zealand will wear pink to highlight the strength and resilience often required by partners or loved ones in the face of cancer.

Team Denmark's skip Madeleine Dupont said she hopes the campaign can encourage the "importance of early detection".

Dupont said: “Every athlete knows someone who has experienced breast cancer; our friends, family or loved ones, by highlighting the awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection we really hope that we can make even a tiny difference”.

Sarah’s non-evasive cancer was detected early and she underwent surgery in Scotland in 2022 before the cancer had any chance to spread. Sarah also tested positive for the BRCA2 gene which was discovered in a hereditary cancer risk test.

Alan said: “Sarah’s close monitoring of her health ensured that any risk of cancer was caught early, and her pro-active surgery removed the risk of any future occurrence. Her strength and bravery were exceptional, and we now want to ensure that we send a message of cancer awareness to the curling community”.

Kate Caithness CBE, former president of the World Curling Federation added: “When you are faced with this challenge this does not only affect you, but also your close family and those around you. Bringing awareness to the curling family can and will make a difference and I applaud and support Foxglide and their team for this wonderful initiative”.

The Women’s World Championship in Sydney concludes on Saturday with while all games are streamed on a dedicated online curling channel which can be found here.