THE ORIGIN OF PINK POSITIVE
Ness and Nic have been raising money for charity since 2000 when Ness was diagnosed with breast cancer. Charities benefiting have been Cancer Research, Walk the Walk – Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the Breast Unit and the Appeal for a Second CT Scanner at the Royal United Hospital,Bath and Dorothy House Hospice.
A vast amount of money was donated not only to Vanessa and Nicola but also to other family members and friends and acquaintances who took up the various challenges with them. In view of the amounts of money that were being donated it was felt that the arrangements should be put on a more formal footing a fund should be set up with a suitable name.
It was during the Solstice Walk in Iceland – just after Ness had been diagnosed with spread to the brain – that out of the blue she decided that they should organise a Ball to raise more funds for the three Charities close to her heart: so they did ! It was called the ‘Pink Finess’ Ball. Pink because that is the colour associated with breast cancer and Finess because it was a corruption of Vanessa and Fiona – a friend of theirs who had recently died from breast cancer.
During the preparation for the Ball Nic came up with the name ‘Pink Positive’ while packing her shopping in Morrisons ! She texted it to Ness, who loved it and after spending an afternoon with John Leighton Graphic Design the logo was born and Pink Positive became a viable organisation – making a negative into a positive, which is what Vanessa did for the seven and a half years she was living with this disease. It is hoped that Pink Positive will soon have official charitable status.
At the Ball they spoke to Nina Rack from the Forever Friends Appeal at the RUH and said that they had an idea for a walk around the catchment area of the Hospital and sought her assistance. This was the start of May Miles between Forever Friends and Pink Positive; from that two sponsored Walks followed, March Miles and May Miles and this year the first Vanessa Kyte Canal Walk will be held on the 7th June, 2008.
Different ideas for fundraising have evolved and various challenges undertaken including the Bath Half Marathon, London Marathon, Nessa’s Utterly Butterly Wingwalk, the Three Peaks Challenge, the Pink Finess Ball and another in the pipeline, Ebay auction for Westlife tickets and, of course, Nessa’s high profile in The Mummy Diaries for Channel 4 in conjunction with Winston’s Wish has definitely hightlighted the slogan Making a Negative into a Positive’.
To date over £100,000 has been donated to charity and at a Ball organised by the Royal High School in Bath on the 8th March in memory of Ness a further £1,500
each was proudly presented by Pink Positive to Dorothy House Hospice, RUH Forever Friends Appeal and Winston’s Wish.
