The Manchester Grammar School Turned Pink

One of the country’s most historic, and iconic, schools turned pink to raise money for a local breast cancer charity.

Boys at The Manchester Grammar School, which was founded in 1515, were invited to wear an article of pink clothing on 11th March to raise funds for the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention charity, based in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

And the School’s historic Main Quad turned into a sea of pink as boys from our Junior and Senior Schools – and staff – wore an array of articles of pink clothing.

Boys and staff were invited to make a minimum donation of £1 and so far the School has raised more than £2,600. Throughout this week, various pink items were on sale at the School, including Genesis t-shirts and pink tutus, again with all proceeds going to Genesis.

After convening in the Main Quad, the boys then marched up and down the School’s drive to show their support for the vital work being done by Genesis.

Best Dressed Pupil award went to Erik Jefferson, 12, of Bramhall, Stockport, who complemented his eye-catching outfit with a pink wig.

Genesis is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer. Last year, The Manchester Grammar School Charities Committee and pupil Ben Sciama, 18, raised more than £40,000 for the charity through various fundraising events.

Garreth Tinker, Chemistry teacher at The Manchester Grammar School and head of the Charities Committee, said: “Although we are an all-boys school, many of our boys will have been affected by breast cancer in some way, and we really wanted to show our support, and solidarity, for the fantastic work being done by Genesis to help so many people.

“It was an incredible sight to see so many boys in pink – I don’t think the School will have ever been awash with so much pink in its 500-year history. The boys were so enthusiastic about wearing pink, in particular the tutus, and it’s been great to see so many of our pupils getting involved.

“But for us the most important thing about today is to raise awareness of the vital work being done by Genesis and to raise money that will help fund the charity’s fight to predict and prevent breast cancer.”

Currently one in nine women and one in 1,000 men in the UK will develop breast cancer.