Against Breast Cancer turns town pink with market show

The market place was packed with people visiting stalls and watching bands.

There were a series of performances throughout the day as fundraisers shook buckets to bring in donations from shoppers.

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Abingdon Rock Choir kicked off the event, followed by performances from Let’s Be Active Belly Dancers, Abbey Brass Band, Strawberry Fayre Majorettes, Mr Hemmings Morris Dancers, Ashnah Belly Dancers, Fionas Poetry, AA Dance Academy and The Undercovers.

A belly dancer at the Against Breast Cancer event (Image: Andy Ffrench)

The Against Breast Cancer charity is based in the town and has been organising annual fundraising events for many years.

It is dedicated to funding groundbreaking UK research to stop secondary spread breast cancer from claiming lives.

Abbey Brass band in Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Shops in the town supported the Paint Abingdon Pink event by decorating and dressing their windows pink.

Against Breast Cancer CEO Bernadette Jones said: “It’s fantastic to see so much support from people in the town, from all the bands and performers, and from the Paint Abingdon Pink support group. It’s been lovely weather too.”

Lookalikes were in the market place to boost donations from shoppers getting selfies.

Bernadette Jones, CEO of Against Breast Cancer (Image: Andy Ffrench)

They included people dressed as Star Wars characters Darth Vader and Chewbacca, and two lookalikes dressed as the stars of cult police movie Hot Fuzz.

Rowan Read, who bears an uncanny resemblance to top actor Simon Pegg, said: “Our Astra is totally roadworthy.

Against Breast Cancer fundraisers with a Chewbacca lookalike (Image: Andy Ffrench)

“I’ve met Simon Pegg at an event and he was very friendly – he appreciates what we do to raise funds for charities.”

There is currently an exhibition in Abingdon County Hall Museum showing the history of Against Breast Cancer fundraising events.

The Paint Abingdon Pink exhibition is running in the attic gallery of the museum.

It charts the history of the local charity’s campaigns from 2009 to the present day, showcasing student-designed logos and community artwork.