LIFE at the Crazy Hats Breast Cancer Charity, based in Wellingborough, has, indeed, been ‘crazy’ these past few weeks.
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month nationally, the Crazy Hats team have been out and about all over the county raising awareness and raising funds. They have had stalls in the Weston Favell Shopping Centre, Swansgate Centre (Wellingborough) and the Newlands Centre in Kettering, where they have been selling the new pin badge, running tombola stalls, selling Christmas cards and spending time talking to people, listening to their stories and offering support.
Local companies, schools, offices and many individuals have also supported the charity throughout October by displaying the charity’s pink bow bunting and organising fundraising events themselves.
The Priory, Sizzling Pub & Grill in Wellingborough, has just benefited from a total refit and having had Crazy Hats as their nominated charity for the past two years, chose to continue with their support for another year. Crazy Hats’ Executive Fundraiser, Glennis Hooper, was asked to cut the ribbon and was presented with a cheque for £8,000, the amount raised to date.
Staff at Impact Recruitment in Northampton have supported Crazy Hats from the very start and sent in a cheque for almost £400 as a result of staff paying to ‘dress down’ every Friday – well over £12,000 has been donated over the years, with the company organising other events and always entering a team in the annual Crazy Hats Walk.
Other companies who have supported the charity recently include: long-standing partner Avon Cosmetics Ltd, Don Millers Bakery (Wellingborough), Martin Cox Brothers (Wellingborough), Wollaston Inn, Bosworth’s Garden Centre, Headquarters Hairdressers (Wellingborough), Finedon Chemist and Isebrook Hospital, to name but a few.
Twelve months ago, the charity celebrated having reached a magnificent milestone of £3m. Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals have been given well over £2m to support numerous projects in the breast care and oncology departments. Leicester Royal Infirmary have also been given funds, together with donations given to other services such as lymphoedema and complementary therapies that the charity now offer.
It was hoped Crazy Hats could secure bigger and better premises but finding suitable places has been exhausting so the charity is now working with both hospitals to agree on more projects and to concentrate on supporting patients more.
At NGH, all newly-diagnosed patients who have had surgery for breast cancer are now given a free bra to go home with, courtesy of Crazy Hats, who work closely with a bra company called Amoena and Avon, who have kindly donated a gift to patients.
At KGH the Crazy Hats team will be sprucing up the treatment centre waiting area to make it bigger and more pleasant for patients and their families and loved ones. £100,000 was given over to this back in 2007 when the centre first opened its doors. Now, some 12 years on, it is time to freshen it up.
Yes, life has been crazy for this dedicated team but they are, undoubtedly, making a huge difference to improving breast cancer care in Northamptonshire. If you would like to support the charity in any way contact 01933 442999, visit www.crazyhatsbreastcancerappeal.co.uk or email