Colin Burgin-Plews has certainly done his fair share for charity over the last six years. He is most famously know as the guy in the Big Pink Dress who runs the Great North Run , London Marathon and many other runs raising vital funds for the causes he supports.
The main charity Colin has raised funds for over the years has been Breast Cancer Now as this was the charity fundraiser the Big Pink Dress originated from back in 2014 From that point Colin has single handedly designed and hand made over 87 dresses and head pieces to help raise funds and awareness for so many charities, raising over £144,000 to date. His hard work was given some recognition in 2019 when he won a regional Pride of Britain Award for his efforts. It seen him invited down to London for the National awards event and as ever they asked him to design a dress just for it which he did happily. Colin certainly caused quite a stir upon arrival and was asked for selfies by many celebrities including Simon Cowell, Gareth Southgate, Dame Kelly Holmes ect Colin and his Pride of Britain outfit were featured on National TV as part of the coverage and this is part of the uncalculated awareness that he raises for the causes he supports because he is a walking talking PR giant. Like everyone over the last 18 months, Colin’s life has been affected by Covid BUT he has continued to try to do his bit virtually on a treadmill and out when allowed. He even created a new character called Hairy Berry to create a bit of online fun in the kitchen to help raise spirits during lockdown. This has all been done during a time when Colin has faced more than his fair share of personal challenges culminating in a skin cancer scare that left him with 16 stitches following removal from his leg recently. Regardless of this, Colin doesn’t let it stop him as he is determined to make a difference and is focused on being a HUGE presence at the GNR course in September. This year he is taking part in the 40th Anniversary of the Great North Run in an outfit (dress and HUGE head dress) designed around Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle and Sunderland shirt when he did it 40 years ago. Colin has chosen to support two local charities which are Disability North in Newcastle and The Bradley Lowery Foundation who are linked with Sunderland due to the immense support they showed little Bradley during his battle with Cancer. Colin chose these two causes because they both do amazing work but the awareness across the region of what they actually do is quite low. Disability North have been working away in Newcastle now from the Dene Centre since opening in 1985 and they support so many people and communities each year, but few people know about them or support their work. Their Mission: To promote inclusion, independence and choice for disabled people and their families. Their Vision: To be the best resource for Disability in the North Disability affects so many families and communities, yet the support for amazing causes like this one do not reflect this. Have a look for yourself at their website to see exactly the HUGE difference they make each year and see if you or your company could help. www.disabilitynorth.org.uk The Bradley Lowery Foundation was chosen because of the fantastic work they do across the region, but with very little awareness of what they actually do or have done since Bradley gained his Angel wings. The Bradley Lowery Foundation was established in August 2017 after six year old Bradley Lowery, lost his fight to Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer. The Foundation aims to support families who are fundraising for treatment or equipment, which is not readily available or covered by the NHS. This includes all illnesses and conditions. The foundation also: supports research into neuroblastoma and childhood cancers, is developing plans to support a £600,000 holiday home in Scarborough and runs a support line for the families of children with cancer in the North East.
