CANCER survivor Yolanda Burgoyne and friends held a fundraising evening for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raised £760 on the night.

The Old Rydon Inn in Kingsteignton provided their barn venue for free and they were backed by local businesses.

Here Yolanda tells her story and how she was determined to thank those who helped her.

OCTOBER was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to Breast Cancer Now, breast cancer affects around 55,000 women and 370 men every year in the UK.

It is the most common cancer in women in the UK, with one woman diagnosed every 10 minutes.

My name is Yolanda and in November of 2021 I became one of those women.

My cancer journey was a successful one thanks to the care that the medical staff at the Breast Care Unit and at The Ricky Grant Ward at Torbay Hospital provided for me. To them all I am forever grateful.

Behind the scenes, however, organisations like McMillan and Breast Cancer now also carry out invaluable work, researching new treatments and supporting patients like me. Without doubt, the experience is life changing and I felt I needed to do something to show my gratitude.

So, coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I decided to organise a Wear It Pink Pub Quiz and Raffle charity event on the 27th October in support of Breast Cancer Now.

The Old Rydon Inn in Kingsteignton provided me with their barn for free. This meant that all money raised on the night were going straight to the charity. Tickets for the pub quiz were sold out within 24 hours, and donations for the raffle started to arrive fast.

From boozy bottles to hand made gifts, friends and work colleagues all raised to the challenge. That was not it though. Local businesses donated too, almost £400 worth of vouchers and gifts, personal trainer sessions, delicious bakery goodies, afternoon teas, gardening vouchers, pampering sessions, rounds of golf… the list went on.

‘I was overwhelmed by the support. On the night, ten teams fought for the pride of being crowned Overall Winner.

Only one team could make it and ‘The C Birds’ were the worthy winners, receiving a prize donated by Tesco.

The staff at The Old Rydon Inn worked tirelessly ensuring no-one went thirsty nor hungry, and the tasty pizzas kept on coming (Thursdays is their pizza night).

Alan, the quiz master, was on top form and got us laughing all night. The night was very successful, and we raised an incredible £760 on the night. Since then Esri UK (my husband’s Jon employer) has donated £500, bringing the total to £1,260. Just wow!

This would have not been possible without the support of so many generous friends who joined me and my family for this event. Equally important was the help of the businesses that kindly donated towards the raffle: Austins Department Store, Claire @ CT Fitness, Daroma – Hair and Beauty, The Old Rydon Inn, The Primrose Tearooms – Lustleigh, Spatial Technologies, Studio Fifteen Nails, Tesco, Ullacombe Farm, Urban and Rural Plants in Exeter and The Van du Pain – Bread by Liz.