SO successful is the ongoing breast cancer campaign that the sight of 2028 bright pink legs standing, running, walking and playing handball during lunch at Canberra Grammar School triggers an immediate sense of recognition.

Last week the CGS senior school held a Pink Socks Day, mobilising 954 students – very nearly the entire school – and their teachers, to purchase 1014 pairs of bright pink rugby socks from the McGrath Foundation at $10 each.

There was no sense that these high school boys were just doing as they were told, either. Most seemed to enjoy the fun of something out of the ordinary, proudly showing off their funny-looking footy socks, despite the fact this required them to wear summer uniforms in May.

Year 12 student and Burgess house captain Tobias Speck points out that breast cancer indirectly affects a lot of people in the school community and the wider community, including himself through his extended family.

“There was one family in particular within our community who has suffered quite a traumatic experience with the whole journey with cancer, and had become quite involved with the McGrath Foundation, so that was how the idea really came to fruition,” says Tobias.

He’s referring to Alison Pike, a committed breast cancer campaigner, whose son Harrison joined the senior school this year and is a member of Burgess, a house for Year 7 students with mentors from Year 12.

“It’s through our house that it went through the communication channels up to the principal,” says Tobias.

Harrison’s mother has previously got his soccer team into the McGrath Foundation’s socks, and the Girls’ Grammar under-11 hockey team, but the Grammar boys are by far the largest group yet she has encouraged to pull them on.

According to the Burgess housemaster, science teacher Jennie Holbrook, the idea started on a smaller scale.

“At first I suggested we do it with Burgess, which is a whole house of 80 kids,” she says. “But then I said, ‘No, let’s think bigger. Let’s see if we can talk the whole school into doing it.’ And do you know what? Out of 960 kids, only six came and said they didn’t want any.”

From the sights and sounds of nearly 1000 boys in their pink socks  having a great time, playing and mucking around in front of the camera, it was apparent the day was a success on several levels.

“They love it – we’re a pretty serious school here, and it’s fantastic that they’ve all got on board – there’s a real fun, light-heartedness to it,” says Jennie.

Tobias agrees it is fun to wear the funny-looking socks, but says it definitely helps to have safety in numbers.

“I think the sea of pink goes well actually; obviously we have a very neutrally coloured uniform which makes the socks really stand out, especially if the boys are out around Canberra,” he says.

“But it’s not just about raising awareness. It’s also about supporting the McGrath Foundation, in being able to support nurses and doctors who treat cancer around Australia. I think it’s like an added bonus to be able to have that visibility in society with these socks.”