Posted on: 22 Oct 2021
Paula Routledge and Rachel Hinchley are just two of the fundraisers that we want to highlight this October in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Paula and Rachel are part of a wider group around Nottinghamshire who band together to raise money in memory of friends who have lost their lives to breast cancer.
To raise money for patients across Nottinghamshire, this fantastic group of fundraisers host a bi-annual Strawberry Ball, as well as popular and successful bike rides. They also do numerous smaller fundraising activities such as raffles, social events and Zoom talks.
By the end of 2022, this team of fundraisers are on track to have risen over £250,000 for Nottingham’s Breast Institute.
Their most recent fundraising effort was a charity bike ride which took place from the 8th to 11th July 2021, in which 40 cyclists and a support team rode from Wales to Wellow - a total distance of 220 miles.
The team were celebrated with a big event at Leyfields Farm, Kneesall, Nottinghamshire.
Paula and Rachel explained: “As a group we started to fundraise after the death of our dear friend Katy Taylor who was treated at the Breast Institute in Nottingham.
“Whilst she was in remission, Katy helped organise a ball which actually turned out to be the first Strawberry Ball, and the money we raised was split between the Breast Institute and a diabetes charity.
“Sadly we lost Katy to the disease at only 37 years old, and since her passing we’ve lost other friends to the illness.
“Sue Duffin, who was treated at the Breast Institute, cycled with us in 2012 in memory of Katy, but sadly has lost her battle since then. Her husband Andrew continues to join us on our rides in memory of Sue. Jaqueline Wright also helped with the first Strawberry Ball and also since then passed away to the illness, and one of our dearest supporters Thelma Cheetham sadly lost her battle in 2016. At the moment we have friends who are under 50 battling with breast cancer.
“As a large friendship group, we make a strong team that will continue to support each other and help to raise money to support research and treatment of this cruel disease. We fundraise for those who are currently battling and in memory of those who we have lost.”
