Bell Park North goes pink

TEACHERS and students at Bell Park North Primary School proudly turned a bright shade of pink on Friday to draw attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Bell Park North Primary cohort created a field of “pink ladies” to raise awareness after postponing their original date for the event a week prior due to a positive COVID-19 case.

The original date of October 29 coincided with the six-year anniversary for the diagnosis of one of the school’s teachers, Kristen Thomas.

Organiser and foundation teacher at Bell Park North, Caitlin Mahar, said because of her newly appointed “community” role it seemed like a wonderful idea to bring the entire school community together to raise awareness for a worthy cause.

“Beth [Carey] and I were both given the role of ‘community’ this year, so we looked through the school’s calendar and decided on a few days of the year that we felt were important for our school’s community,” Ms Mahar said.

“This day made perfect sense given it is about something that has personally touched our community.”
Educator Ms Thomas has finished her treatment and is now a cancer survivor, making last Friday’s event even more special.

Ms Thomas has been a teacher at Bell Park North for the past 11 years, teaching from year levels Grade One to Grade Six.

She now holds the role of disability inclusion and welfare coordinator and remains a much-loved member of the staff.

Friday’s event brought back “bittersweet” memories for Ms Thomas but she is eternally grateful to the Bell Park North community.

“This place holds a very special place in my heart,” she said.

“I don’t think I would have gotten through my treatment if it wasn’t for this school and the staff that are here.

“The love and support from almost everybody was just unbelievable and I don’t know if I could ever repay them for that.”

Part of the event included students writing a personal message to either Ms Thomas or a person they know going through cancer or who had gone through cancer, which was then attached to a field of “pink ladies” on the school’s grounds.

For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness Month head to bcna.org.au.

If you would like to donate you can do so by going to nationalbreastcancer.org.