Charity fashion show shines a spotlight on people affected by cancer in Yorkshire

Yorkshire Cancer Research has held its first supporter fashion show at the charity's new superstore in York, shining a spotlight on the experiences of people affected by cancer and their families in Yorkshire.

Marking the launch of the charity’s Christmas campaign across its network of 18 shops, the fashion show brought together 15 people from across the region to model outfits sourced entirely from Yorkshire Cancer Research shops. Each person who took part represented the fact that every 15 minutes, someone in Yorkshire is told they have cancer. 

Through a series of themed catwalks and heartfelt speeches, the event celebrated the stock donors, volunteers and supporters whose generosity helps fund research breakthroughs in Yorkshire. Thanks to them, more than four million items have been sold across the charity's shops since the beginning of 2026, transforming second-hand treasures into vital funding for pioneering research and innovative cancer services.

The fashion show also showcased the unique pre-loved fashion available in Yorkshire Cancer Research shops, highlighting how every purchase made this Christmas helps shoppers discover one-of-a-kind finds and reduce waste, while raising vital funds for vital research. 

At the heart of the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show were people affected by cancer whose experiences are central to the charity's mission to find new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. Those who took part included people rebuilding confidence after a cancer diagnosis, others receiving treatment, families celebrating milestones together and individuals remembering loved ones.

While every person’s connection to cancer and the charity’s work is different, each experience reflects the impact of cancer in Yorkshire and the vital role research plays in keeping families together for longer.

Mother and daughter Lynn and Jemma Hall, from Doncaster, walked down the catwalk together to celebrate the life-changing impact of research after a challenging year when Lynn was diagnosed with cancer.  

Following a visit to her GP with abdominal pains in December 2025, 58-year-old Lynn was told she had a fast-growing type of oesophageal cancer in January.  

Lynn said: “We spent the Christmas before on edge. We tried to carry on the usual festivities, but it was hard. Christmas is all about family and togetherness, so it makes you think about everything you could lose. When I was then told I had cancer in January, it was such a bombshell.”  

Jemma added: “Mum is my beautiful, incredible, selfless, caring best friend, so to hear the word ‘cancer’ connected to her was hard to accept.”  

After her diagnosis, Lynn was referred to Active Together, the research-backed cancer exercise treatment service funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research. The expert team of cancer specialists helped Lynn prepare for her operation to remove the tumour and rebuild her strength afterwards.  

She said: "The difference exercise has made physically and mentally has been enormous. The Yorkshire Cancer Research Active Together service has helped me to feel like myself again.”  

“My consultant told me because of the scale of the surgery, I should expect to spend at least two weeks in hospital. But I was home in seven days. To think that time was effectively halved through cancer exercise treatment pioneered here in Yorkshire is remarkable.”  

Inspired by her mother’s experience, Jemma completed this year’s Great North Run to support the life-saving work of Yorkshire Cancer Research.  

Lynn and Jemma typically enjoy holidays and day trips together, walking the family dog Mash, and rarely missing the chance for a new adventure. Their latest adventure – walking down the catwalk together at the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show – was a way to celebrate how far Lynn had come since her cancer diagnosis.

Jemma said: “Last Christmas, we didn’t know what the future held. This Christmas, thanks to vital research and services in Yorkshire, Mum can be with her family.”  

The Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show was hosted by former ITV presenter Christine Talbot, who was diagnosed and treated for a fast-growing type of breast cancer.

Christine said: "When I was told I had cancer in 2012, I was live on TV every night and very much in the public eye. The support I received from colleagues and the public was overwhelming. Cancer is not something you would ever wish on anyone, but it showed me a whole new level of kindness I didn't know existed." 

For Claire Charlton and Mohan Nagaraj, the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show was an opportunity to celebrate the strength of their relationship and reflect on everything they had experienced together. 

37-year-old Claire had been feeling tired and struggling with muscle pain for months before a lump on her neck was spotted during a routine dental appointment. Scans confirmed she had thyroid cancer.  

Claire said: “I was completely unprepared when I was told the lump was cancer. I felt disorientated and in shock. The results from my surgery showed I’d been living with cancer for quite a long time and, because of that, I would need intensive treatment.”

For Mohan, the diagnosis transformed their relationship overnight.  

He said: “You go from planning your future together to waiting for answers about what the future holds. But I never considered walking away. From the moment of her diagnosis, I promised Claire I would stay by her side. We would get through it together.”  

The two years since Claire’s diagnosis have been a cycle of scans, hospital appointments and treatments, leaving her experiencing high levels of fatigue and often unable to leave the house. Unfortunately, Claire’s cancer returned twice in that time, at one point requiring a surgery which carried the risk of removing her vocal nerve.  

Claire was able to receive surgery to remove the cancer which thankfully kept her vocal nerve intact, and her health is currently stable. Despite the uncertainties, throughout it all the couple have been making the most of the moments they’ve had together. They married in November 2025, enjoying a traditional wedding celebration in India with their families.  

Claire concluded: “I’m proud to support the work of Yorkshire Cancer Research so these experts can continue providing the best possible cures and care to people with cancer across our region.  

“I’ve had some incredibly difficult moments, but alongside them I’ve found love, celebrated a proposal and a wedding, visited Lapland and been surrounded by people who never stopped showing up for me. That’s what I choose to focus on.”  

Sadly, people in Yorkshire are more likely to have their lives cut short by cancer than almost anywhere else in England. As Yorkshire’s cancer charity, Yorkshire Cancer Research is dedicated to changing this, funding £99m of cancer research and services and bringing them to people in Yorkshire.  

For Janea Maitland, taking part in the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show was a way of honouring her mum's memory while helping create a better future for families affected by cancer. 

In 2020, while pregnant with her daughter, Amelie, Janea was diagnosed with malignant melanoma after noticing a bleeding sore on her leg. Following Amelie's birth, she learned the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and underwent surgery and a year of immunotherapy treatment.

Throughout her treatment, Janea was supported by her mum, Janet, who helped care for both her and her newborn daughter.

Janea said: "I remember ringing Mum after finding out the cancer had spread and I needed more treatment. When I got home, she was waiting for me on the drive and gave me the biggest hug. She looked after me, drove me to appointments and helped care for Amelie. I honestly don't know how I would have got through it without her."

While Janea was still receiving treatment, she received more difficult news - her mum had been diagnosed late-stage lung cancer. Janet quickly began a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, meaning both she and Janea were receiving cancer treatment at the same time. 

Despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Janet's health deteriorated and she died in August 2023, aged 56, just weeks before Janea completed her own treatment.

Reflecting on the impact of losing her mum, Janea said: "Cancer disrupts the natural path of family life. I'll never get to care for my mum in her later years, and she'll never get to see Amelie grow up. She was so excited to become a grandma, and now cancer means she'll miss most of my daughter's life."

Now cancer-free, Janea is passionate about supporting research that can help more people receive an earlier diagnosis and access better treatments. 

Every outfit featured on the catwalk was carefully curated by long-standing Yorkshire-coast based businesswoman and supporter Tina Boden and image consultant Jackie Crawford, from York. 

Tina said: "For more than a decade, I’ve had the privilege of supporting the work of Yorkshire Cancer Research in a variety of ways. What first inspired me to get involved was the charity’s commitment to putting the needs of people in our region at the heart of everything it does. From over 10 years of fundraising to helping people through their best through confidence coaching, it has been wonderful to draw on the skills I’ve developed over the years to bring this special fashion event to life.

Jackie said: "As a Transformational Stylist, I help people embrace positive change by using colour and personal styling to build confidence and self-esteem. This project has allowed me to flex my creative muscles and style charity supporters using pre-loved clothes from Yorkshire Cancer Research shops. As a champion of sustainable fashion, I love the idea of the new adventures that pre-loved clothes will enjoy with their new owners.  

Tony Graham, Director of Retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Funds raised through the charity's shops play a vital role in funding the talented researchers and experts working to find new and better ways to prevent detect and treat cancer in Yorkshire. Every item donated, every purchase made and every volunteer hour helps turn pre-loved goods into life-saving research and innovative cancer services that are changing lives across the region.”  

The Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the incredible quality and variety of items available in the charity’s shops, while celebrating the supporters, volunteers and donors whose generosity makes such vital work possible. It’s thanks to them, the charity is bringing new cancer cures to Yorkshire and helping keep families together – not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.”