Ladies' nights raise £13,000 for breast cancer

A chance encounter in the school playground has spurred one Sawston woman to raise more than £13,000 for breast cancer research. When Angela Finlayson started treatment for breast cancer at Addenbrooke's in 2006 she told another mother at her daughter's school, Naomi Froment.

 

 

Naomi decided to start fundraising – and the Glitz and Glamour dinner dances were born. She says: "There was a group of us who did the Race for Life, but I hate running so wondered what we could do to keep our spirits up. So I decided to get together a group of mums for a ladies-only evening of fun, book the venue and a disco, and if I get 50 mums that will be great.

 

"I sold over 200 tickets it was just going to be a one-off but every year it's got bigger. It's a chance to come out and really dress up in ball gowns. The DJ told me it's the only event he plays at where the women dance to the very end - they can dance all night without worrying about

their partner. This year we had 300 tickets and the whole lot sold in two weeks without advertising."

 

Five years on, the dances have raised £13,000 for breast cancer research. Naomi approached members of the local cricket team in Abington to be shirtless waiters for the night: "They love it – can you imagine 20 men with 300 women?" Naomi organises the event herself, and each year swears it will be her last. "It's hard work but when I came into the Breast Unit at Addenbrooke's and see what those ladies go through, it's an eye-opener. I think, 'This could happen to anyone.'"

 

The ladies-only balls are held in the TWI conference centre in Cambridge each May, and this year, more than 300 women attended, including

members from CUH's own oncology department (pictured). Angela Finlayson says of Naomi's fundraising: "She wanted to do something to help out and she's been really good. I have Herceptin at the hospital every three weeks and every time I think of the people have paid for it by going to the dances."

 

If you wish to raise money for a particular department in the hospital or specific research, we would be delighted to provide advice. Please contact ACT on 01223 217757 or act@addenbrookes.nhs.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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