04/10/2026
"Breast friends" Julie, Helen and Pauline from our Thornaby store are all using their own experiences to spread awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer – and in the process have raised tens of thousands of pounds for our Tickled Pink campaign as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The trio have all had breast cancer and are well known in the store and the local community for dressing up in pink wigs and tutus and holding fundraising events for the campaign's charity partners Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! which always go down well with customers and colleagues.
Helen said: "Tickled Pink is amazing and I feel proud to be involved. For me it's all about community spirit and raising awareness and it's come such a long way in 30 years. Awareness is the big thing for for me and checking yourself is so important. That’s what Tickled Pink does; it gets the message out there. Cancer is just a big scary word, but we must try to not look at the doom and gloom of it all. There are lots of positives. Medical research has improved leaps and bounds to what it was years ago. I hope in the future that everyone will be able to survive breast cancer. Early diagnosis is the key and that's what Tickled Pink is all about."
Pauline has recently retired, although she's already returned to the store to continue her fundraising. She's been instrumental in establishing a second-hand book stall at the front of the store for customers and colleagues which brings in about £2,000 to £3,000 a year for Tickled Pink. She said: We are the faces of Tickled Pink here and we are always here for anyone who needs to talk. In years gone by breast cancer wasn't talked about, but thankfully it is now. Tickled Pink has made breast cancer an everyday word; it's nothing to shy away from."
Julie has had breast cancer twice and says Tickled Pink's message of raising awareness of the importance of regularly checking yourself is vital. She said: "Early detection is so, so important, and I feel so lucky. This year I've been to the celebrations of my son, Martin, who has turned 40, and my oldest grand-daughter Ellie who turned 21 and graduated from university too. I've a little grand-daughter, Maisie, who's just turned six who I may not have even met, so I'm really thankful."
