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Ask any NRMA Insurance Pink Test volunteer what inspired them to register, and you’ll hear a different story.
For some, it’s the cricket. For others, it’s about meeting new people or giving back. And for many, it’s about supporting a cause close to their heart. Together, volunteering duo Aaron and his mother-in-law, Michelle, had all these reasons covered.
Michelle has always been passionate about volunteering and enjoys the sense of purpose that comes from helping others. When she decided to join the Pink Army, she knew exactly who to invite along: her son-in-law, Aaron.
“Michelle knows I love cricket. I’m a big fan, so she thought it would be something I’d enjoy,” Aaron says.
On Jane McGrath Day – Day 3 of the Pink Test – Aaron and Michelle travelled from Wollongong to join the Pink Army at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Aaron may have been sold on the idea for the cricket, but it was the people who made the day so special.
“I couldn’t get over how nice people were and how they all came together,” he says. “It doesn’t matter where people are from, whether you’re winning or losing, people are so generous.”
“We didn’t even have to ask people for money. They just came to us,” Michelle says. “People are so friendly and kind. They come to you.”
With the crowd in full voice and the SCG buzzing around them, Aaron and Michelle were quickly swept up in the atmosphere.
“Everyone was wearing pink,” Aaron says. “Pink hats, pink scarves… pink everything.”
Among all the conversations, fundraising and cricket, the pair even shared an unexpected moment in the spotlight.
“Somehow we ended up on the big screen,” Aaron says.
Moments like that made the day fun, but for the duo, volunteering also carried a deeper meaning. Cancer has touched both their families, so knowing the McGrath Foundation now helps people with all types of cancer gave the day even greater purpose.
“The fact that it can help so many people opens your eyes,” Aaron says.
Michelle understands the importance of having a nurse there, having watched her own mum experience cancer.
“My mum was going through cancer, but she was also the strong one who carried our family through it,” Michelle says. “We can’t all be that strong in situations like that, which is why having a nurse there is so important.”
“I couldn’t get over how nice people were and how they all came together. It doesn’t matter where people are from, whether you’re winning or losing, people are so generous.”
- Aaron | Pink Test Volunteer
For Michelle, volunteering is a chance to give back alongside people who care about the same cause.
“You all have the same purpose and come together to help out,” she says. “It makes you feel good.”
With Michelle’s love of volunteering, Aaron’s passion for cricket and their shared connection to the cause, the two made an unstoppable team.
For anyone thinking about joining the Pink Army, Michelle’s final tip is one that worked perfectly for them.
“Find a friend and bring them with you. It makes it easy,” she says. “It’s an amazing event. It’s friendly, it’s bright and everybody’s happy and excited.”
And, if you’re lucky, you might even end up on the big screen.
The free Cancer LGBTIQ+ Inclusivity Toolkit helps health professionals deliver inclusive, affirming and culturally safe cancer care. Developed in partnership with leading researchers and advocates, it translates evidence into practical learning to improve care for LGBTIQ+ people experiencing cancer.
Communities across Australia are invited to turn their towns pink as Pink Up Your Town returns for 2026. This McGrath Foundation campaign brings people together to raise funds and ensure more people experiencing cancer can access the support of a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse.
From decorating streets to hosting local events, every community can get involved in its own way. Every splash of pink helps fund free, expert cancer care. Register your town and be part of something meaningful.
Metcash Food Supplier of the Year Awards 2026 raised $156,000 for the McGrath Foundation, helping fund McGrath Cancer Care Nurses to support people experiencing cancer.
What if something as simple as buying a garden hose could help support cancer care? This summer, Holman Industries brought that idea to life by turning a selection of their most popular gardening products pink in support of the McGrath Foundation.
It’s been a record-breaking Pink Test, with more than $11.7 million raised - the highest amount in the event’s history – enabling the McGrath Foundation to extend its care to more families facing cancer than ever before.
For Simon, cricket has always been more than a game, it’s been a lifelong passion, a family tradition, and ultimately, a bridge to supporting a cause that means the world to him.
