Purple will once again take centre stage at Kwinana Knights Football Club this Saturday as the club hosts its third annual Pankind Round, continuing a community initiative that has already raised more than $60,000 in its first two years for pancreatic cancer research while educating hundreds of people about one of Australia's deadliest cancers.

Since launching the initiative in 2024, the Knights have embraced the annual round as far more than a fundraiser. What began as a club-led tribute has grown into one of Pankind's leading community fundraising initiatives nationally, using the power of grassroots football to drive awareness, education and support for those impacted by pancreatic cancer.

For Club President Noah Kirkwood, Play in Purple is about much more than football. It is a way to honour his mum, who passed away from pancreatic cancer just one week before the club's first Play in Purple event.

"Growing up, the cancer you always heard about was breast cancer," Kirkwood said.

"For us, it's always been about raising awareness. Everyone has been affected by cancer in some way or another, so if we can create a supportive environment for even one week and get people talking about pancreatic cancer, that's a big tick in my box personally."

Debbie Kaplan became involved with Pankind after losing her own mum to pancreatic cancer. After volunteering with the organisation in 2023, she has helped grow the Play in Purple campaign across Australia, seeing the number of participating clubs increase from around 100 to 150 this year.

"They've been amazing," Kaplan said of the Kwinana Knights.

"Most clubs get involved because someone within their community has been affected by pancreatic cancer, but what Kwinana has built has become so much bigger than that. They're creating conversations and awareness that extend well beyond their own club."

Awareness is particularly important because pancreatic cancer is often referred to as the "silent disease", with symptoms frequently overlooked or mistaken for less serious conditions until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.

Pancreatic cancer develops when abnormal cells in the pancreas grow uncontrollably, forming a malignant tumour that can spread to other parts of the body if not detected early.

Unlike some other cancers, there is currently no routine screening program for pancreatic cancer. While imaging and blood tests can assist in investigating symptoms or people at high risk, there is no simple screening test available for the general population.

Some of the signs and symptoms can include:

• Persistent pain in the upper abdomen or back.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).
• Dark urine or pale stools.
• New-onset diabetes.
• Ongoing fatigue or digestive issues.

Symptoms can vary significantly from person to person, and many people experience only a small number of these signs, making awareness and early medical advice especially important.

While experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily mean someone has pancreatic cancer, medical professionals encourage anyone with persistent or unexplained symptoms to speak with their GP as early as possible. While anyone can develop pancreatic cancer, increasing age, smoking, obesity and a family history of the disease are among the recognised risk factors. Early detection provides the greatest opportunity for treatment and improved outcomes.

Kaplan said awareness campaigns like Play in Purple were helping to shine a light on a disease that is too often diagnosed too late.

"It's known as the silent killer," she said.

"By the time it's diagnosed, it's generally at stage three or stage four. That's why awareness is so important."

To download Pankind's Self Assessment Guide, click here.

This year's Pankind Round will once again transform the club into a sea of purple, with players from every Kwinana Knights side – men's, women's and colts – wearing specially designed guernseys for the first time. Supporters are encouraged to dress in purple and get involved in a range of fundraising activities throughout the day, including the club's popular bake sale.

"We'd love everyone to get down to Kwinana, wear your best purple outfit and get involved," Kirkwood said.

"The girls do an awesome job with the bake sale. Even if you can spare a couple of dollars for a cookie or whatever they've cooked up, it all goes a long way."

The club will also unveil its new-look Pankind guernseys, with every Kwinana Knights side – men's, women's and colts – proudly wearing them throughout the day. Players will also warm up in specially designed Pankind training tops created by Hamersley Carine Football Club captain Tait Robertson, highlighting how the football community continues to come together in support of a cause far greater than the game itself.

Beyond the fundraising, Kirkwood says the support from both the football community and the wider Kwinana community continues to be incredibly humbling.

"It hasn't slowed down. The support we've received from the community has been incredible," he said.

"It's a pretty humbling experience to see everyone continue to get behind the cause year after year."

The initiative is proudly supported by Pankind, Australia's leading charity dedicated to improving survival outcomes through research, awareness, advocacy and support for those affected by pancreatic cancer.

Kaplan said the growth of the Play in Purple campaign had been driven by communities wanting to make a difference, with around 150 clubs across Australia now taking part this year.

"Whenever clubs wear purple socks, purple jumpers or get behind the campaign, it creates awareness throughout the community," she said.

"They're standing up for a cause, and that starts conversations not only within their own club, but with the opposition and everyone who comes through the gates."

In 2025, an estimated 4,825 Australians were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, making it the eighth most common cancer in the country. Despite this, survival rates remain incredibly low, with people diagnosed between 2017 and 2021 having just a 13.5 per cent chance of surviving five years. Initiatives like the Kwinana Knights' Pankind Round play an important role in helping more people recognise the signs, understand the risks and seek medical advice sooner.

This Saturday, football will once again become the vehicle for something much bigger.

Whether it's pulling on something purple, buying a cupcake, making a donation or simply taking the time to learn more about pancreatic cancer, everyone who walks through the gates will be playing their part in supporting a cause that desperately needs greater awareness.

For more information about pancreatic cancer, including the signs and symptoms, risk factors and the importance of early detection, visit Pankind's pancreatic cancer information hub here: https://pankind.org.au/symptoms-of-pancreatic-cancer/