SCHOOL friends have joined forces in the battle against a disease that blights the lives of people.
Fundraiser Kim Oldham is planning to take part in the London Pink Ribbon Walk to finance research into a disease that threatened her health.
The 51-year-old, of Darlington, developed thyroid cancer and had to undergo surgery and radioiodine treatment that left her temporarily radioactive and in isolation for days.
Now her school friend Donna Slyfield has pledged to donate some proceeds from an arts event she is organising to showcase local talent.
Shout About Art is a pop-up exhibition due to be staged on Saturday May 17 at Hurworth Grange, Hurworth, near Darlington.
The exhibition will provide the chance for artists and designer makers to demonstrate their creative skills alongside established artists in an affordable and nurturing setting.
Donna, a tutor at Darlington College, said: “The event is a great opportunity for emerging talent and also a chance to raise much-needed funds for a worthy cause.
“Cancer is a disease that touches us all in some way and the more money that goes into research the better.”
Several friends, who all attended Branksome School, now Darlington School of Mathematics and Science, have been diagnosed with cancer or had cancer scares over the years.
Kim knows the impact only too well. “I didn’t have any symptoms and there wasn’t an obvious lump but I’d met up with a friend and she noticed a shadow on my neck,” said Kim, a student services manager at Framwellgate School, Durham.
“I didn’t drink or smoke and have always been pretty fit and still got it. But cancer is survivable and I now grab every day.”
She said she thought Shout About Art was a great idea and was thrilled it would also be raising money for charity. “There must be loads of artists out there too afraid to show their work and this provides them with an easy alternative,” she said.
Shout About Art debuted last year and exhibitor prices remain the same at £70 for a large area and £50 for a small.
Entry is £2 on the door with children under 14 years old free when accompanied by a paying adult. Discounted family and friend’s tickets for four adults are available from www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shout-about-art-hurworth-tickets.
Exhibitors will also be featured on the Shout About Art website – www.shoutaboutart.com – where full details of the event and a downloadable application form can be found. Entries close on May 3.
