Bourne teacher’s Boob Ball at Thetford Farm Estates smashes £10,000 target for breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel!

A charity ball organised by a cancer survivor has smashed its £10,000 fundraising target after an ‘amazing’ community response.

The Boob Ball took a year of planning for Hannah Dring, from Bourne, who came through two lots of major surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy following her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2019.

But the event, held at Thetford Farm Estate, in Baston, proved well worth the effort, attracting 160 guests and raising £12,700 - and counting - for breast cancer awareness charity, Coppafeel.

“The whole evening was just absolutely amazing,” she said.

“Everyone's had such lovely positive feedback. It makes me feel brilliant to be able to have raised that much awareness and such a phenomenal amount of money.”

A raffle raised £2,700, while an auction, hosted by Kit Longstaff, made around £1,800, adding to ticket revenue and table sponsorships.

“People have been so generous and so kind,” Hannah said.

“We had over 50 raffle prizes and nine amazing auction prizes, and without that generosity from businesses, sponsors and everyone involved, it wouldn't have been what it was.

“I’m very, very grateful to everyone who's supported this.”

She added: “When I walked in the room at Thetford and saw all the tables I thought ‘oh God, this is more people than came to my wedding - I've got to make this work!”

Hannah, a family learning tutor for Lincolnshire County Council, needn’t have worried.

It worked so well, she has been inundated with requests to put on another.

“I would do another one next year, but just at the minute I feel like it's a lot to ask the same town for the same amount of support,” she said.

“I think everyone would be up for it again next year, but I think a year off and then we'll do it again.

“Give me a few months and I may have changed my mind, but at the minute I think bi-annually is maybe the way forward to get that level of support again.”

As well as the live music and festivities, the evening also had an important message to share.

Hannah began volunteering for Coppafeel in 2021 to spread the word in schools and colleges of the importance of regular breast checks.

At the ball she talked about the charity’s work and highlighted how one-in-seven women in the UK are affected by the disease.

“I think people were amazed at these statistics and, unfortunately, how common it is,” Hannah said.

“Anything that can get the message out there and encourage people to check, and get their doctor if they're unsure, is just the best feeling, really.

“And the money will go a long way in supporting Coppafeel get their message out there.”

There was another reason for celebration on Thursday - the fifth anniversary of becoming clear of cancer.

Mum-of-two Hannah marked the day in her customary way, by creating her own ‘cancerversary’ dance which she posted on Instagram.

But she had also celebrated the milestone a few days early at the ball.

“It was a bit of a double-whammy and I think that was why everyone was in such a good spirits -because it was creating a positive out of a negative experience,” she added.

“To be able to do that and share with other people why that's so special to me, it was just really, really uplifting.

“I was singing, dancing and living my best life. It was the best time and the best night.”