YOU couldn’t help but see pink at the Tathra Wharf to Waves over the weekend.
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Organising committee member Linda Badewitz-Dodd said it was to honour her husband David, who died last year.
Badewitz-Dodd said a number of David’s lifelong friends had visited the area for the event and proudly donned cerise (pink) coloured jerseys.
Members of the Bega Valley Blue Viens Rugby Union Club also turned out in support during both the bike ride and swim events.
A number of the men rode a section of Saturday’s bike ride as a tribute, while others took part in the swims on Sunday.
“David was the president of the Blue Veins and he really helped reinvigorate the club, so that was a tribute to him,” Badewitz-Dodd said.
“A few of the guys weren’t able to get here in time for the ride, so they’re going in the swims tomorrow [Sunday],” she said after the ride.
Around 10 friends from Sydney gathered to take part in the event to honour David, with school-mate David Jarjoura leading the pack in both the ride and swim.
“Ten of his school friends came down and all of them said they will come back next year.
“For them it was a situation of ‘why didn’t we do this earlier?’,” she said.
Badewitz-Dodd said her children Harry and Mackenzie had also been very supportive, with Harry joining the men on the ride.
Meanwhile, on Sunday morning volunteers, organisers and support staff all flaunted the bright pink attire.
After a safety induction from the race director, Rex Kermode gave a moving speech about recognising his friend’s ambitiions in life, but said it was hard to talk about the loss endured.
“David was a great supporter of the Wharf to Waves, but the wounds of loss are very raw for all of us,” Kermode said.
“He was a great mate, a husband, a proud father and so many other things.
“So once again cerise is to the fore.
“So when you see this colour, think of Tathra and enjoy your swim today [Sunday],” he said.