A Doncaster mother and daughter this week took to the catwalk in York as part of a charity's Christmas campaign across its network of 18 shops.
The fashion show brought together 15 people from across the region to model outfits sourced entirely from Yorkshire Cancer Research shops.
Each person who took part represented the fact that every 15 minutes, someone in Yorkshire is told they have cancer.
The fashion show took place on Wednesday 4 November 2026, at Yorkshire Cancer Research’s flagship York superstore, which opened in March 2026 at Foss Islands Retail Park.
Through a series of themed catwalks and heartfelt speeches, the event celebrated the stock donors, volunteers and supporters whose generosity helps fund research breakthroughs in Yorkshire.
Thanks to them, more than four million items have been sold across the charity's shops since the beginning of 2026, transforming second-hand treasures into vital funding for pioneering research and innovative cancer services.
The fashion show also showcased the unique pre-loved fashion available in Yorkshire Cancer Research shops, highlighting how every purchase made this Christmas helps shoppers discover one-of-a-kind finds and reduce waste, while raising vital funds for vital research.
At the heart of the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show were people affected by cancer whose experiences are central to the charity's mission to find new and better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer.
Those who took part included people rebuilding confidence after a cancer diagnosis, others receiving treatment, families celebrating milestones together and individuals remembering loved ones.
While every person’s connection to cancer and the charity’s work is different, each experience reflects the impact of cancer in Yorkshire and the vital role research plays in keeping families together for longer.
Mother and daughter Lynn and Jemma Hall, from Doncaster, walked down the catwalk together to celebrate the life-changing impact of research after a challenging year when Lynn was diagnosed with cancer.
Following a visit to her GP with abdominal pains in December 2025, 58-year-old Lynn was told she had a fast-growing type of oesophageal cancer in January.
Lynn said: “We spent the Christmas before on edge. We tried to carry on the usual festivities, but it was hard. Christmas is all about family and togetherness, so it makes you think about everything you could lose. When I was then told I had cancer in January, it was such a bombshell.”
Jemma added: “Mum is my beautiful, incredible, selfless, caring best friend, so to hear the word ‘cancer’ connected to her was hard to accept.”
After her diagnosis, Lynn was referred to Active Together, the research-backed cancer exercise treatment service funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research. The expert team of cancer specialists helped Lynn prepare for her operation to remove the tumour and rebuild her strength afterwards.
Lynn said: “The difference exercise has made physically and mentally has been enormous. The Yorkshire Cancer Research Active Together service has helped me to feel like myself again.”
“My consultant told me because of the scale of the surgery, I should expect to spend at least two weeks in hospital. But I was home in seven days. To think that time was effectively halved through cancer exercise treatment pioneered here in Yorkshire is remarkable.”
Inspired by her mother’s experience, Jemma completed this year’s Great North Run to support the life-saving work of Yorkshire Cancer Research.
She said: “I saw the difference the charity’s exercise service made to Mum. From the very first session, she just lit up. If I couldn’t help her directly with her medical treatment, I wanted to help fund research and services that give more families in Yorkshire the same chance we’ve had.”
Lynn and Jemma typically enjoy holidays and day trips together, walking the family dog Mash, and rarely missing the chance for a new adventure. Their latest adventure – walking down the catwalk together at the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show – was a way to celebrate how far Lynn had come since her cancer diagnosis.
Jemma said: “Last Christmas, we didn’t know what the future held. This Christmas, thanks to vital research and services in Yorkshire, Mum can be with her family.”
Lynn concluded: “The only reason I can look forward to life together with family again is because of cancer research, treatment and support here in Yorkshire. I never expected to be in a fashion show at 58 years old, but it has been one of the big lights at the end of a very dark tunnel. Being involved in the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show meant so much to me.”
The Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show was hosted by former ITV presenter Christine Talbot, who was diagnosed and treated for a fast-growing type of breast cancer.
Christine said: "When I was told I had cancer in 2012, I was live on TV every night and very much in the public eye. The support I received from colleagues and the public was overwhelming. Cancer is not something you would ever wish on anyone, but it showed me a whole new level of kindness I didn't know existed."
"When I was asked to host the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show, I was delighted. At this time of year, family and community take on even greater importance, and events like this are a wonderful reminder of the strength and generosity of people across Yorkshire. I'm proud to support a charity that is helping bring life-saving breakthroughs to Yorkshire and changing what a cancer diagnosis means for people across the region."
Sadly, people in Yorkshire are more likely to have their lives cut short by cancer than almost anywhere else in England. As Yorkshire’s cancer charity, Yorkshire Cancer Research is dedicated to changing this, funding £99m of cancer research and services and bringing them to people in Yorkshire.
For Janea Maitland, taking part in the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show was a way of honouring her mum's memory while helping create a better future for families affected by cancer.
In 2020, while pregnant with her daughter, Amelie, Janea was diagnosed with malignant melanoma after noticing a bleeding sore on her leg. Following Amelie's birth, she learned the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and underwent surgery and a year of immunotherapy treatment.
Throughout her treatment, Janea was supported by her mum, Janet, who helped care for both her and her newborn daughter.
Janea said: "I remember ringing Mum after finding out the cancer had spread and I needed more treatment. When I got home, she was waiting for me on the drive and gave me the biggest hug. She looked after me, drove me to appointments and helped care for Amelie. I honestly don't know how I would have got through it without her."
While Janea was still receiving treatment, she received more difficult news - her mum had been diagnosed late-stage lung cancer. Janet quickly began a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, meaning both she and Janea were receiving cancer treatment at the same time.
Janea said: "It didn't feel real. Mum hadn't shown any symptoms and was still her usual outgoing self. One minute she was supporting me through treatment and the next, our family was trying to process her own diagnosis."
Despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Janet's health deteriorated and she died in August 2023, aged 56, just weeks before Janea completed her own treatment.
Reflecting on the impact of losing her mum, Janea said: "Cancer disrupts the natural path of family life. I'll never get to care for my mum in her later years, and she'll never get to see Amelie grow up. She was so excited to become a grandma, and now cancer means she'll miss most of my daughter's life."
Now cancer-free, Janea is passionate about supporting research that can help more people receive an earlier diagnosis and access better treatments.
She said: "Getting involved in the Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show gave me something positive to focus on. My mum won't see my little girl grow up, but I'm hopeful advances in cancer research will mean more children get to grow up with their grandparents. That's why supporting research is so important to me."
Tony Graham, Director of Retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Funds raised through the charity's shops play a vital role in funding the talented researchers and experts working to find new and better ways to prevent detect and treat cancer in Yorkshire. Every item donated, every purchase made and every volunteer hour helps turn pre-loved goods into life-saving research and innovative cancer services that are changing lives across the region.”
"The Yorkshire Cancer Research fashion show is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the incredible quality and variety of items available in the charity’s shops, while celebrating the supporters, volunteers and donors whose generosity makes such vital work possible. It’s thanks to them, the charity is bringing new cancer cures to Yorkshire and helping keep families together – not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.”
Shop with Yorkshire Cancer Research this Christmas and help keep families together: www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk
