Enthusiastic fundraisers are gearing up for the 21st Witney in the Pink Day this Saturday, and asking for the town’s help and support to make this the biggest and best ever.

This vibrant community occasion - postponed last year due to Covid - has, over the years, raised a total in excess of £250,000 for the Abingdon-based charity Against Breast Cancer’s research to improve detection, treatment and increase survival from breast cancer.

Witney in the Pink Day is organised by the charity’s Witney Action Group, and the team are lining up a fun-filled day from 9am-5pm in the town centre, which will be decorated with hundreds of biodegradable pink balloons.

Town shops and businesses will compete to display the best decorated shop window, there’s tombola and cake stalls, a tin collection, and a packed programme of street entertainment including Witney Rock Choir’s flash mob, the WOAPA choir, Oxford Drag Collective, Horns of Plenty community street band, Witney Town Band and Body Evo.

Once again, a cavalcade of pink cars will parade through the town and then park up on Church Green for viewing. The parade leaves the Windrush pub, Burford Road, at 11.30am.

“Witney in the Pink Day is a magical event – the support every year is tremendous and unwavering,” said action group chair Jeanne Chattoe, from Witney.

“It’s such a wonderful, feelgood event and it’s raised awareness too, helping an awful lot of people to talk about breast cancer and reach out for help and support.”

Lyn Oswin, of Enchanted Floristry at Minster Lovell, is sponsoring Pink Day and has once again created a memory tree to honour all those who have lost their lives to breast cancer.

The tree is now in place in St Mary’s Church, on Church Green, and will remain there throughout October – national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. People are invited to write personal tributes to their late loved ones, and hang them on it.

“We need your help again this year to make our 21st event, postponed from last year, the biggest and best yet and raise funds for an incredible cause – the last Pink Day in 2019 raised £8,000!” said Mrs Chattoe.

“We are still in need of cakes and bakes for the cake stall, and prizes for the tombola. And we are appealing to shops, pubs, and Witney businesses to take part in the pink shop window competition, or to organise an initiative such as pink drinks, a raffle or quiz.”

Cake donations can be dropped off at The Shake Shop in High Street just before Pink Day or at the cake stall near Bakers Butchers from 8am on the morning of October 2.

If you can help in any way, email Mrs Chattoe at jchattoe@hotmail.com or call 01993 772449.