About 30 people gathered for the inaugural ‘Pink Stumps Day’ at the Gunnedah-based Donnelly Fields last Friday.
Attendees came from Gunnedah/Tamworth Community Corrections and Gunida Gunyah, with many of them dressed in pink while $2042 was raised for the McGrath Foundation.
A 20 overs per side cricket match took place, with Dean’s Derros tallying 89 runs before Mark’s Marauders claimed victory with 106 in the run chase.
There were plenty of laughs as some of the bowling was not your average cricket style, while some participants used a tennis racquet rather than a cricket bat.
There was also plenty of action off the field as there were raffles, auctions, vouchers, a lolly guessing competition, 50 club and 100 club.
Prizes included a football, a framed and autographed Benji Marshall photo, a jersey signed by Josh Hazlewood, and a jersey signed by Glenn McGrath.
Slices, cupcakes, fruit and slushies were consumed, in addition to a barbecue lunch.
Event co-organiser Jesse Northey-Baldwin from Gunnedah/Tamworth Community Corrections said the participation from everyone was really good, while “hopefully we can build on it next year”.
Jayne Higgins at the crease during Pink Stumps Day.
“I think everyone was happy to get behind the cause, which was great to see,” he said.
Jesse said the event came about because it helped a worthy cause while the McGrath Foundation was a charity that everyone could support.
“Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate,” he said.
“Pretty much everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer.”
One of the attendees was Christine Shuttleworth, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and required treatment for the next 10 years.
Christine said she had been “lucky and privileged” to have a breast care nurse in Sydney and another in Dubbo.
Christine said the nurses supported not only her but her family, including oncologist counselling for the children.
Now a resident of Barraba, Christine had been involved in other McGrath Foundation-related events and said events like Pink Stumps Day meant a lot to her.
Christine said she had a lot of setbacks and tough times during her 10 years of treatment, but that “you focus on moving forward” while there was light at the end of the tunnel.
“I take a breath every morning I wake up,” she said.
