Concerts set to put breast cancer fight into the spotlight

Musical director organises a series of events

A breast cancer survivor hopes a series of fun concerts will help to raise awareness of the disease.

Maxine Wilson, musical director of the RubyRockits performance choir, will be taking the group on a tour visiting venues in Tenterden, Ashford, Cranbrook and Robertsbridge.

Concert-goers are being promised a fun night out with goody bags, while some concerts will also involved fashion shows featuring models who have beaten the disease.

Maxine said: “The main goal for us is to spread awareness about early warning signs, self-checking and getting ladies to overcome embarrassment and fear if they do need to visit the doctor or have a mammogram.”

The 55-year-old says that a lump is not the only warning sign of breast cancer: “I had advanced breast cancer myself when I was 52, which despite several visits to the doctor, was initially missed. I didn’t have a lump, but I knew something was wrong as I was very itchy.”

The disease spread to her lymph nodes, which she had to have removed and Maxine also had a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy,

Concert tickets costs £5 and cover the costs involved but any extra funds raised will be donated to Breast Cancer Now, with a video also being shown on the night with a guide to self-examination.

The first concert is tonight (Thursday) at the Little Silver Hotel in St Michaels and includes a fashion show staged by Tenterden High Street clothes shop Cashara, with models’ make up by Space NK.

Another concert is being staged at Eastwell Manor, Ashford, in October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

Maxine said: “If the shows help just one woman to be aware of breast cancer symptoms they will have been worth it.”

Tickets are on sale in shops and pubs across the towns or can be ordered at www.rockitchoir. co.uk where details of venues and times can also be found.

■ For information on breast cancer symptoms visit www.nhs. uk/conditions/breast-cancer

Breast cancer survivor Maxine Wilson is pictured with her grandson Max at Disneyland