In a national effort to end social violence, the Sharks have teamed up with Step Back Think to support this year’s Lace Up campaign.
Tomorrow night when the Sharks take on the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium the Sharks NRL squad will all wear orange shoelaces to show our commitment and to raise awareness about social violence.
Social violence is a significant issue that impacts 1 in 2 men in their lifetimes, costing some their lives and damaging countless others. In 2016, social violence killed 20 Australians.
“Social violence is all too common. This game-changing campaign mobilises grassroots and elite sporting clubs to start conversations about social violence with team mates and friends,” says Step Back Think CEO, Anna O’Halloran.
In a display that the whole club is behind the ‘Lace Up’ initiative, the NYC Sharks will join their senior colleagues in also wearing the orange laces as they strive to make it 14 consecutive wins when they play the Broncos in the curtain-raiser tomorrow night.
Step Back Think is a pioneering not-for-profit organisation focused on driving cultural change to end social violence through education and awareness raising campaigns.
Step Back Think is a pioneering not-for-profit organisation focused on the prevention of social violence. We drive cultural change through education, research and awareness raising campaigns. Social violence includes one-punch assaults, pub brawls and street fights and impacts 1 in 2 men in their lifetime, costing some their lives and damaging countless others.
The Lace Up Against Social Violence campaign is encouraging Australian athletes of all codes, levels and ages to wear orange shoelaces to raise funds and awareness about social violence. Lacing up is an opportunity to reflect on the impacts of violence and start conversations with teammates to influence positive behaviour and attitudes.
It is widely recognised that sport is central to the lives of young men and plays a powerful role in bringing communities together.
With that being the case, Step Back Think is working with ambassadors from elite AFL and NRL sporting clubs to mobilise the community and assist us in raising awareness about social violence.
During Lace Up Weekend (August 11-13), players across sporting codes, including the Sharks and Wests Tigers, will unite to fight for a common goal – the prevention of social violence.
