Breast cancer survivors raise £11,000 for Plymouth charity that "saved their lives"
The local ladies have all been supported by the Primrose Centre at Derriford Hospital
Last updated 13th Oct 2022
A Plymouth charity is set to benefit from a substantial amount of money thanks to the efforts from a group of breast cancer survivors.
The local ladies, known as Dare 2, were supported by the Primrose Centre at Derriford Hospital and wanted to do something to give back.
They held a charity ball at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel on Saturday (8th October), where they 'dared to dance' to raise funds for the Primrose Foundation.
This is the third event the group have hosted, their first being 'Dare to Bare' back in 2018 where they raised £13,000. In 2019 they 'Dared to Burlesque' where they raised £10,000.
At this year’s Ball, the ladies put on a series of dances, with their grand finale performed to the songs “I’m Every Woman” into “This Is Me” – a routine from their 'Dare to Bare' event from 2018.
So far, they’ve raised £11,000 but they’re still collecting donations through their JustGiving page.
Michelle Hull, from the group, said the night was "incredible": "It’s all a bit of a blur. I keep re-living moments and remembering things.
"The guests in the audience we had were absolutely phenomenal. They were right behind us, up on their feet. It was just an amazing evening with a lot of money raised. The generosity from people, it’s just been incredible."
The money they’ve raised from previous events has helped to fund a quiet room at the Primrose Centre, as well as a part-time Clinical Psychologist.
Michelle says they’re not sure what the money will go towards at the moment, but she can say that it’s "money well spent":
"We do get heavily involved in having a say in how that money is spent.
"The money raised in 2018 and 2019 paid for a bursary for a psychologist and a quiet room at the foundation. So when people have a diagnosis, they can go into this room and take in what they’ve just been told.
"The worst thing we all felt was, you’re bundled back into the waiting room and there’s loads of women there waiting for their diagnosis, and you’ve just come out crying – and we found that was difficult.
"We were very passionate about having a safe space for the ladies to go after they’ve received some really devastating news."
The Dare 2 group is made up of 10 local ladies who have all received a breast cancer diagnosis. They are: Michelle Hull, Gill Hardy, Hellen Baker, Marie Bryan, Kathryn Short, Catherine Loft, Sally Thompson, Fiona Osmaston, Denise Holgate, and Wendy Deane.
To date, they've raised £34,000 for the Primrose Foundation.
How to spot the signs of breast cancer
This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
According to the NHS, first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.
They say most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by a doctor.
You should see a GP if you notice any of the following:
- A new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast that was not there before
- A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- A discharge of fluid from either of your nipples
- A lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- A change in the look or feel of your skin, such as puckering or dimpling, a rash or redness
- A rash (like eczema), crusting, scaly or itchy skin or redness on or around your nipple
- A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
Be breast aware
Every woman's breasts are different in terms of size, shape and consistency. It's also possible for one breast to be larger than the other.
Get used to how your breasts feel at different times of the month. This can change during your menstrual cycle. For example, some women have tender and lumpy breasts, especially near the armpit, around the time of their period.
After the menopause, normal breasts feel softer, less firm and not as lumpy.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme has produced a 5-point plan for being breast aware:
- Know what's normal for you
- Look at your breasts and feel them
- Know what changes to look for
- Report any changes to a GP without delay
- Attend routine screening if you're aged 50 to 70
Look at your breasts and feel each breast and armpit, and up to your collarbone. You may find it easiest to do this in the shower or bath, by running a soapy hand over each breast and up under each armpit.
You can also look at your breasts in the mirror. Look with your arms by your side and also with them raised.