The New Haven Open at Yale has launched a new breast cancer initiative to raise awareness and funds to help in the fight against breast cancer including a CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run and multiple initiatives with Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.

The New Haven Open is a WTA event that will be held August 18-27 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale.


The New Haven Open has partnered with CYBEX, a leading manufacturer of premium exercise equipment, to feature a CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run during the tournament. The Pink Ribbon Run will offer players, fans, sponsors and media the opportunity to walk or run on a special pink treadmill to raise funds for breast cancer. For every mile logged, donations will be made to Susan G. Komen Connecticut Affiliate and the Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. Starting today, anyone can make a donation for each mile logged on the treadmill, or make a lump sum donation, by emailing pinkribbonrun@newhavenopen.com 

In addition, the pink treadmill, which will be signed by all the WTA players, will be auctioned off after the New Haven Open. Starting today, bids may be placed on www.charitybuzz.com, and all proceeds will be donated to the above breast cancer charities.

“As a women’s-only tournament, and considering that one in every eight women in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer, it is a natural tie-in for the New Haven Open to launch a breast cancer awareness initiative,” said Worcester. “It is our goal to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer, especially the importance of early detection. I encourage everyone to come out and participate in the CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run in one of three ways: by walking or running on the treadmill, making a donation per mile or bidding in the auction of the pink treadmill.”

“Exercise education is a platform our company prides itself on,” said Lisa Juris, CYBEX VP of Marketing. “The CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run is designed to showcase the importance of exercise – and specifically how exercise can reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50%.”

In addition, throughout the tournament guests can visit the Yale-New Haven Mammography Van on-site to receive mammograms and information on breast cancer awareness and early detection. Finals day, Saturday August 27, is “Yale-New Haven Hospital Day” and the first 7,500 guests will receive a pink hat in honor of breast cancer awareness, courtesy of Yale-New Haven Hospital. The tournament will also donate a portion of finals ticket proceeds to the Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.

"We are pleased that the New Haven Open at Yale has chosen to highlight the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection during this year's tournament," said Thomas J. Lynch, Jr., MD, Director of Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. "The funds raised through the CYBEX Pink Ribbon Run events will provide critical support for innovative breast cancer research and patient care."