ACTORS and pop stars will be among the fundraisers supporting the much-anticipated annual Pink Ball in Berkswell next month.
Actor Christopher Walker – best known for his role in BBC soap Doctors – and Modern Romance frontman Andy Kuriacou, are on the guest list for the Ball at Nailcote Hall Hotel Golf and Country Club, which is set to raise thousands of pounds towards local state-of-the-art cancer treatment at Solihull, Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals.
It marks the 22nd year of the glittering event, which has so far raised more than £500k for the hospitals.
And it’s a cause very close to the heart of the hotel’s co-owner and two-times cancer survivor Sue Cressman, from Dorridge.
The 65-year-old, who underwent a mastectomy ten years ago, has been continuing to give back with the life-saving medical equipment which includes localizer probes.
This new technology leads to more accurate surgery with less damage to healthy tissue and a reduction in the need for radiation.
At just 32 years old, Sue found a lump in her breast but despite being sent home without any further tests she ended up having chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery and a stay in a hospice.
Some 21 years after believing she’d beaten the disease, Sue later learned her cancer had returned and, in 2013, she was forced to make the agonising decision to have her breast removed.
It also resulted in 16 corrective surgeries due to complications due to her earlier radiotherapy.
She said: “I didn’t want to have the mastectomy but once it was done and I was sitting up in ICU I was relieved thinking, at least it’s finished. I wasn’t living under the threat of breast cancer anymore.”
This also inspired Sue, to record her own charity single, Survive in 2018.
It was written by her husband of 15 years Rick and their friend Guy Barnes.
It was later adopted by top arranger and producer Ian Wherry who has worked with such musical greats as Elaine Paige, David Essex and David Cassidy.
“As my song says, it’s a journey and you know the road will be long but you’ve got to keep on going,” she said.
“That is my strapline. You’ve got to have hope and you’ve got to have strength. And if you allow yourself to be taken in by this terrible weight of distress then that road is going to be so much harder.”
There will be a host of auction lots at the Pink Ball on October 5 including a signed presentation piece with singles and CD cover, donated by Kuriacou, as well as Frank Bruno-signed boxing gloves.
Live entertainment will be provided by The Jersey Rollers, featuring West End star Michael Watson.
Sue said: “My fundraising is a debt of gratitude to the wonderful doctors and nurses and I really felt I wanted to raise money for the comfort of other breast cancer patients by giving them the help and equipment they need immediately.
“I go to see a consultant in breast cancer units and ask them what they need. Small things can make all the difference – and event guests get to see exactly where the money goes.”
Tickets can be booked here.
