Survivors strut their stuff for Addenbrooke’s breast cancer appeal

More than £4,000 was raised for charity after 12 breast cancer survivors strutted their stuff on the catwalk on Thursday (October 1).

A sell-out crowd of 400 people turned up to support the event at Chesterford Research Park, with all the money being donated to the breast cancer appeal at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Boobie hats, made famous by Saffron Walden lady Sarah Poulter and the Boobiebellion campaign, were worn throughout the evening, with Sarah being one of the models for the show.

Event coordinator Amanda Tobin, who also modelled, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic evening. There were some nerves from a few of the girls, but as soon as it finished they all said they can’t wait for next year.

“The audience really got behind us and I’d like to thank everybody for being there. The support we received from John Lewis in the styling, and Hair Boutique was amazing, and I can’t thank them and others who donated raffle prizes enough.”

Amanda confirmed that the event will now be held annually in October to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that she expected the total amount raised to rise further with money still coming in.

Boobiebellion began in January after Sarah, 44, a mother of two, who had lost her hair to chemotherapy, was abused by a woman in Tesco for wearing a pink hat that looked like a bosom.

The woman ran off before Sarah could say anything so Sarah wrote a letter to the press leading to over 100 women wearing “boobie hats” and raising what is now a total of £8,000 and still counting for cancer treatment.