Learners at an Abergele school have helped raise hundreds of pounds for charity by donning pink outfits.
Staff and learners at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan raided their wardrobes for the initiative, which has helped raise a total of £866, which will be split between Wear It Pink breast cancer charity and the Sporting Champions project.
It is the tenth year the school has backed Wear It Pink, raising more than £9,000 in total for the charity.
Sporting Champions was added to the school’s fund-raising efforts this year, following a visit by Team GB hurdler and TV star Will Sharman to work with learners before handing out the school’s annual awards.
PE teacher Karen Duggan, who organised the fundraising week, said: “All our Year 7 to 9 learners, both boys and girls, and those Year 10 and 11 learners who opted to take PE at GCSE level, took part in the fundraising.
“They were encouraged to wear as much pink as possible such as socks, T-shirts and, as far as the boys were concerned, whatever their mums and sisters had in their wardrobes!
“During PE lessons they took part in various sponsored fun sporting activities and some learners held cake sales to add to the amount of money they raised.
“I have to thank our learners for their fundraising efforts and the support of their parents and guardians in helping to make such a big difference.
“The average we raise each year is £1,000 and this year the money we raise will be split between the breast cancer charity Wear it Pink and Sporting Champions.
“Top GB athlete and 110m hurdler Will Sharman was in school for a day working with learners and explaining how Sporting Champions works.
“The learners really enjoyed the sessions Will put together and we wanted to support the initiative that brings world class athletes and young people together to increase and sustain participation in sport.
“As teachers we actively encourage and inform learners of the charities we support, the implications to us as individuals and how our fundraising can benefit others.”
Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan learner Brooke Ross of St Asaph said she wanted to support the fundraising for Wear it Pink as her aunt had suffered from cancer.
The 13-year-old said: “I wanted to help raise money for breast cancer as I think it’s really important to help others. I know how bad it was for my aunt.
“It’s been good fun and great to see so many boys wearing pink to support the charity. I hope we raise a lot of money.”
Warren Hill, also 13, of Abergele, admitted to raiding his sister’s wardrobe so he could borrow her shocking pink singlet.
He said: “She doesn’t know yet so will probably shout at me! I don’t mind wearing pink as it’s for a really good cause that people should support.
“It’s really good that the school does charity work and raises money like this. I hope it does a lot of good.”
Delainey Maguire-Smith, 12, of Bodelwyddan, added: “Raising money for breast cancer is really important and I’m glad to help the school raise as much as we can. It’s been fun and the more money we collect the better it will be.”
Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan head teacher Lee Cummins said the charity fundraising for Wear it Pink and Sporting Champions was an excellent initiative by the school’s PE department.
He said: “It’s all about the school’s involvement in the wider community and showing learners how we can all make a difference.
“Learners enjoy the fun activities organised by the PE department and it’s good to see boys willing to wear pink in support of the breast cancer charity.
“Over the past decade PE department staff and our learners have raised a huge amount of money in support of breast cancer charities.
“It’s a fantastic effort and no doubt I’ll see lots of learners taking part in PE lessons next year dressed in pink!”
