Valley: We're in the pink to support breast cancer

Valley in the pink for Glenn McGrath's Pink Stumps Day

Moonee Valley will be one of hundreds of cricket clubs across Australia participating in Pink Stumps Day in February.

Moonee Valley Cricket Club coach Vic Hodge said the Club had been given a Pink Stumps Day kit by the McGrath Foundation, and the First Eleven would take to the field on February 18 in the home game against Werribee Centrals in full support of the breast cancer initiative.

Vic said the game will use pink stumps, the Moonee Valley keeper will wear pink gloves and pads and there will be several other pink touches to mark the occasion.

The kit also includes pink bails, six pink training safety cricket balls, McGrath Foundation/Vodafone caps, sew-on badges, 100 pink temporary tattoos and a team kit bag.

The initiative is also supported by Cricket Australia’s community action program Cricket Cares and the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.

Pictured here showing off our pink gear and promoting the cause are (L-R) Moonee Valley players Victoria Thorneycroft, Tien Polonidis and Vic Hodge.

Chairman and co-founder of the McGrath Foundation, Test cricket legend Glenn McGrath, is thrilled by the support and enthusiasm shown by communities during Pink Stumps Day 2011, and is hoping Pink Stumps Day 2012 is even bigger and even pinkier.

“It’s through the support of the Australian Government, corporate friends, Foundation friends and the Australian public that we’ve been able to support more than 10,000 Australian families through their breast cancer experience in the past three years with our 65 McGrath Breast Care Nurses working nationally,” Glenn said.

“Support from the cricket community, with events such as Pink Stumps Day 2012, will go a long way to helping us support the next 10,000 families.”

Moonee Valley Cricket Club also has a unique online fundraising page to help encourage donations – http://pinkstumpsday.gofundraise.com.au/page/VicHodge

“Moonee Valley is inviting friends and family to wear pink on the day, and will have volunteers roaming the field with a collection tin for donations and temporary tattoos in exchange for a gold coin donation to help pink up the Club,” Vic Hodge said.

All proceeds from the day will be donated to the McGrath Foundation to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia and to increase breast awareness in young women.

As a registered club for Pink Stumps Day 2012, Moonee Valley now has the chance to win a visit fro an Australian Cricket Legend on Pink Stumps Day. Should Moonee Valley raise the most funds, we will also win a signed bat from the Australian cricket team.

“Pink Stumps Day gives cricket clubs nation-wide the chance to use cricket as a vehicle to support the McGrath Foundation, just as has been done with the Sydney Pink Test for the past four years,” Vic said.

For more information about the event, visit the McGrath Foundation Pink Stumps Day website at www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au