Breast Friends strut their stuff at catwalk show

Women who say they refuse to be defined by their breast cancer diagnosis strutted their stuff during an "empowering" charity fashion show in front of hundreds of people.

Catwalk on the Coast took place in Felixstowe in aid of the cancer community Breast Friends, which was founded in Essex and Suffolk.

The group helps and connects women with breast cancer across the East of England through staging events, distributing hospital care kits and offering online support hubs.

Willow Storer, who is 50 and had breast cancer, said: "I'd never done anything like that before because I am a total wallflower but I do not want to miss out on life anymore."

She added: "It was totally out of my comfort zone but I don't want to be sitting in the corner anymore watching everybody else enjoy themselves.

"I had a ball and I was just a child playing on that catwalk – I found it really empowering knowing that I was supporting a case that is really important."

According to Cancer Research UK, there are about 56,800 new breast cancer cases recorded in the UK every year and about 11,500 deaths from the disease.

Mrs Storer, from Felixstowe, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2023 before having a lumpectomy and 19 sessions of radiotherapy.

She has been given the all clear, but said the importance of raising awareness of breast cancer and the support on offer through the likes of Breast Friends was vital.

"Breast Friends is like a family and it is nice to meet up with people who understand and who are so inspiring," she added.

"Life isn't always fun but when it is you have to grab it because you don't know what is going to happen next.

"[Even if you have breast cancer] you can still be yourself and be celebrated for it, whatever struggles you go through."

Breast Friends was started in 2021 by Caroline Sturman, 47, from Felixstowe, and Janine Aldis, from Colchester, as a Facebook group.

Its popularity quickly grew, with hundreds of women flocking to the platform in search of the sense of solidarity and togetherness the group offered.

It has since packaged up and distributed nearly 2,000 care kits to women receiving treatment, including patients at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford and Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.

Menopause kits with information and products designed to help with the symptoms of menopause that may be experienced after cancer treatment are also available.

Speaking about the powerful impact of the catwalk on those who took park, Ms Sturman said: "We were just completely blown away by an amazing evening.

"These were ladies that have had breast cancer, been through all sorts of treatment and are carrying scars, who strutted their stuff with such confidence.

"There's a common misconception that once treatment ends everyone jumps back into the person that they were before but that is rarely the case for these women.

"So, for them to stand up there and be seen was huge and a real proud moment for Breast Friends."

The final fundraiser figure raised by the catwalk on Thursday, which was attended by 250 people and was also hosted in aid of the Land Guard Trust, has yet to be confirmed.

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