York: Breast cancer survivors put on charity fashion show

A group of breast cancer survivors dazzled in a charity fashion show at Browns department store in York.

The "empowering" event raised money for charity Breast Friends as it showcased the shop's latest fashion collection.

Last Thursday's sold-out show saw survivors celebrate their "new normal", while being cheered on by friends and family who were urged to sing along.

Organisers said the event raised £2,000 for the charity which offers peer support to people with breast cancer.

Speaking ahead of the event, organisers Sara Murphy and Zoe Bounds told BBC Radio York how the idea for the York show came about.

The pair - who have both previously received a breast cancer diagnosis - met on a course in 2019.

Sara recalls the group being told they could enter a draw to be picked to model in a breast cancer survivor fashion show in London.

"I looked at Zoe and said, 'but look at all of these fabulous women in this room - we don't need to go to London'."

Sara, who previously worked in the lingerie department at Browns, already had friends in the retail industry and was able to get in touch with a former colleague at the department store and organise the show, which has taken place since 2019 during York Fashion Week.

Nearly all the models come from Breast Friends, a peer support group which brings together people who have received a diagnosis of breast cancer at some point in their lives.

"We just support each other," explains Zoe.

"We have all been there and heard the words 'you've got cancer'."

"So, we've got people that have had a lot of treatment, we've got people who have just had surgery - it doesn't matter what treatment you've had, it's that you've heard those words."

Some of this year's models were newcomers to the fashion runway, while others are modelling for the second time.

"It's just amazing," said Sara. "Last year one girl nearly vomited before she went on and thought she couldn't do it, but this year, when I put the plea out, she was one of the first people who said they wanted to do it.

"So she will have a completely different experience to what she had last year. It's just great."

The show is intended to show normal women celebrating their bodies after cancer.

Zoe believes those who try to go back to being exactly the same person they were before a cancer diagnosis are "probably going to be disappointed".

"I get to see these women who have been through so much - their bodies have changed, the control has been taken away from them and they're trying to find a new normal," she said.

"Once you've heard those words, you can't go back to normal."

All the money raised will fund Breast Friends - jokingly dubbed "the best support group you never wanted to join" by Zoe and Sara - to ensure that anyone with a breast cancer diagnosis can enjoy meeting up with women in a similar position, no matter their financial status.

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