PINK LINK TO VITAL PROJECT
THE players from Ignatius Park College and Kirwan State High School donned pink laces while putting their best foot forward during yesterday’s Townsville schoolboys derby.
Both teams threw their support behind the Best Foot Forward program, which is run to help young girls around the world, especially those in poor countries, receive an education.
Senior students at Iggy Park have been buying pink laces for charity, and the good deed was picked up by the Kirwan boys, who also decided to wear the pink laces for yesterday’s Aaron Payne Cup showdown.
Ignatius Park principal Shaun Clarke said players from both schools had performed a noble act by showing their support for the important cause.
“We know that these young men can make a difference not only by raising funds for girls’ education in the poor regions of our own backyard but also spreading the message and raising funds for those young girls in need across the world,” he said.
“The footy field is the classroom where the laces will be seen by many, ensuring that the message of equality is heard.”
Former NRL hardman and State of Origin great David Shillington also spoke to Ignatius Park students via Zoom ahead of the big game about residence and mental health.
Shillington is project officer for the NRL’S State of Mind program, which also features advocates such as former Ignatius Park student and Cowboys captain Michael Morgan and Broncos star Darius Boyd.
Shillington spoke to the students about topics such as dealing with injury, selection setbacks and asking for help. “It’s a program that aims at reducing the stigma around mental health difficulties and encourages help-seeking behaviours,” Shillington said.