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Vernon  

Wearing pink to stop bullies

Pink was the fashion of the day as the Vernon Vipers hit the ice, Wednesday.

In support of Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 25, the six-time national champs donned pink jerseys as they faced off against B.C. Hockey League rivals, the West Kelowna Warriors.

Many in the crowd were wearing pink, too, for the special anti-bullying matinee game. More than 1,600 elementary school students were bused in for the game.

Chere Lane, Vernon Boys and Girls Club program co-ordinator for the North Okanagan, said there was an “awesome” response from the school district and the Vipers when the idea was suggested more than a year ago.

“The Vipers are really great supporters of ours. Doing the 11 a.m game was a bit of a gamble, but we got a really good response when we put it out there,” she said.

The team's colourful jerseys were auctioned off after the game, with the proceeds going to the boys and girls club.

Pink shirts became an anti-bullying symbol after a high school student in Nova Scotia wore a pink shirt to school and was bullied by classmates.

David Shepherd and Travis Price witnessed the bullying, so they purchased pink shirts and wore them to school the next day in support of their friend, and the movement grew from there.

“We are very big in the anti-bullying movement,” said Lane. “The movement is more about promoting kindness.”

Lane said if children learn to be kind, they won't bully others.

The Warriors won the game 6-4.

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