Dale College will highlight its Pink Weekend with its derby day against rivals Selborne College on Saturday in Qonce.
The school's rugby team is known in the province for its red and black strip, but once a year team members run onto the field in pink in an initiative to raise cancer awareness.
“It’s a powerful reminder to the Dale community of the importance of compassion, health awareness and unity in the face of adversity,” headmaster Craig Hatches said.
“This ties closely in with the Women’s Day celebration the same day.”
While Dale College was an all boys school, it had a great sense of gratitude and care for the women in the community, he said.
Dale’s Pink Weekend was introduced in 2012.
Since then, it has become an annual tradition that brings solidarity with those affected by the illness in the Old Dalian Union and among current pupils.
Dale will kick off the Pink Weekend on Friday with a civvies day, when staff and pupils will wear pink.
On Saturday, Women's Day, team members from all the school’s sporting codes, including the first rugby and hockey teams, will wear pink against East London rivals Selborne.
“Players across various sports codes wear pink socks, armbands or kit accents to visually mark the occasion,” Hatches said.
“The school grounds are decorated in pink and awareness posters and messages are shared throughout the week.”
Another aim of the wearing of the pink is to raise funds. The school’s Interact Society has been selling ribbons to pupils, with the proceeds going to several cancer-related initiatives.
Hatches emphasised how important it was to teach pupils about raising awareness for causes.
It helps build character and shows learners they have the power to be agents of change in society
“Dale College believes in educating the whole child — not just academically or athletically, but also morally and socially.
“Teaching our students to raise awareness through causes like Pink Weekend instils values of empathy, leadership, civic responsibility and community engagement.
“It helps build character and shows learners they have the power to be agents of change in society.”
Phindiwe Ludwaba Tyeda, secretary of Dale’s school governing body and a Dale parent, said: “It is powerful that Dale College exposes our children to awareness of cancer through this wonderful initiative.
“These boys are tomorrow’s parents and have to be aware of its effects on society. This means a lot to me as a parent and even as a person not necessarily affected by cancer.
“I think other schools should have similar initiatives.
“Yes, the clash against Selborne will gain a lot of people’s attention, but at the end of the day we must not forget the focus of the Pink Weekend, which is to raise awareness.”
Daily Dispatch
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