St Stithians hosts action-packed Pink Day Derby against St John’s College
LYME PARK – St Stithians and St John's College joined up for the annual Pink Day Derby to close off the winter sports season in aid of Pink Drive.
St John’s College concluded their winter sports season at the annual Pink Day Derby hosted by St Stithians College.
The aim of the pink derby is to raise awareness about breast cancer. The idea was envisaged by St John’s College matric Luke Kuttschreuter in 2008 when he approached deputy head of student affairs Martin Huysamer to ask if he would be allowed to sell pink ribbons at school to raise funds for the oncology unit at a local hospital. Luke and his brother Alex had lost their mother to cancer a few years earlier. From these humble beginnings and after much brainstorming and tweaking over the years, the idea of the Pink Day Derby emerged.
In 2016, St John’s hosted the first Pink Day Derby against St Stithians Boys’ College, teaming up with Pink Drive, an organisation which provides free support and counselling services to women with breast cancer across South Africa. Funds were raised for the cause through sales of pink roses and cupcakes and allocating a percentage of food and drinks sales to the drive.
St Stithians agreed to reciprocate this year by hosting the fixture for this important cause.
Head of marketing and communications at St John’s College Jacqui Deeks said, “We hope the impact of having two great boys’ schools in Johannesburg support women’s health at their derby fixture will go a long way to heightening awareness around breast cancer.”
St John’s College enjoyed a 52–33 victory in the rugby over hosts St Stithians at the Baytopp Fields.
The first XI hockey team played their fixture against St Stithians with many playing their final match for St John’s College, with emotions running high.
St John’s went ahead with a tremendous penalty corner from Connor Esterhuizen but Saints equalised with the game finishing in a one-all draw.
Master in charge of hockey at St John’s College Andy Aldred said, “We wish success to all the gents leaving and will closely follow their future hockey careers.”
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