Witney in Pink will celebrate its 25th anniversary this September. It is a beloved community event in the Oxfordshire town that raises funds for Against Breast Cancer.
Jeanne Chattoe started fundraising for the charity in 1990 after meeting Tony and Pat Leathem, founders of the charity. Jeanne said she “was so impressed by their dedication” that she decided there and then that this would be the charity she wanted to fundraise for. After handing over her first cheque donation of £1,000, Jeanne continued with her fundraising. She became a trustee of the charity in 2002 and, later, the chair of trustees from 2009 to 2018.
After Jeanne and her family were touched by breast cancer, she made it her mission to come up with a new idea for fundraising. So Witney in Pink began. With the support of Against Breast Cancer, Witney Action Group and everyone who has supported this event over the years, they have raised an astounding total of over £300,000.
Witney in Pink started as a small affair in 2000 with a cake and bric-a-brac stall. Jeanne had the help of her husband and son to put up and take down the balloons at the event. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength thanks to Jeanne and the lovely members of her team, including Laura Hounam, who has helped from the start and is the longest-serving member of the action team.
To celebrate this year’s amazing 25th anniversary, you can expect an impressive lineup of street entertainers as well as the very Grande Tombola, cake stalls, the legendary Pink Car Parade and much, much more, including, new for this year, the ‘Pink Pooch Dog Show’.
Jeanne said “A huge thank you to all the many street collectors, cake makers, entertainers and local businesses. I think we have done a lot to raise awareness to promote the charity, as well as raising funds. The people of Witney are so supportive and look forward to the day as it’s such a great community event.”
The 25th anniversary of Witney in Pink takes place on the 27th September. Join us and let’s make it a day to remember! More information about the event is coming soon. Keep an eye on the charity website and the Witney Action Group Facebook page when it does.