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Mark Evans from Wallsend, with the help of the Newcastle Size? Store, raised almost £ 20,000 to support the Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust (BTCT).
Mark, 36, entered the retailer’s competition to design a pair of Adidas sneakers.
The prize would allow the winner to see their pair transformed into a real shoe.
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Mark played around with creating a design based on the music he cared about, but instead, inspired by his wife, he created a blue, pink and purple design based on the cancer awareness ribbon. thyroid.
Wife Rachael was diagnosed with the condition four years ago, and the family have seen firsthand the difference Rowlands Gill-based BTCT makes for those who suffer from it.
Mark said he sent his entry into the competition and didn’t give much thought to the prize – until it was revealed he won.
Not only that, when he won, Mark met the Size? where he persuaded them to help him. They then made a stunning £ 15,000 donation to the charity.
Mark upped that by raffling a few pairs of very special limited edition ‘Trimm-Star’ sneakers and asking for donations from family and friends who wanted a pair – and raised an additional £ 2,200 himself.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
He told ChronicleLive: “I saw the contest on social media. It’s related to a particular type of trainer called The Last Ones. I had made a design based on a particular CD. showed the woman and she said, kinda, ‘that’s bullshit, do something bigger.’ And she suggested maybe thyroid cancer.
“So I thought the ribbon would be a good idea to base a design on – they tend to be great bright colors.”
He came up with a design and it was the last he heard until he got the email telling him he had made it to the public vote stage – which would see the ten best trainer designs reduced to one that had to be produced for real.
“I was wondering if I could get them to donate money.”
Cut? obliged, and supported Mark’s efforts to use the contest to raise awareness about cancer.
Father-of-three Mark also raffled pairs of trainers on social media, and he said the interest of his friends and family – and trainer enthusiasts around the world on social media – had contributed to his fundraising.
Kate Farnell MBE, BTCT, said the charity was incredibly grateful and thanked Mark and Size ?.
She added: “We totally rely on people doing great things for us like Mark did.
“People are very grateful for the support we are giving. What happened is Mark’s wife was treated at our center in Newcastle and I think they found the support offered by the very useful association. “
By announcing their donation, Size? said: “According to the Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust, each year around 2,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
“By working with Mark and adidas, we hope to raise awareness, provide a broader understanding, and educate customers about the disease.”
Kate, who founded the association after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000, added, “I didn’t learn anything about it until the end of the day when Mark won.”
“It was exciting. The patients all wanted to support the association and have a pair. It’s wonderful.”
The trainers’ launch coincided with Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month in September, and Kate has also published a book based on the experiences of thyroid cancer patients to help those who suffer from the disease themselves. .
For more information on thyroid cancer, the BTCT charity, and Kate Farnell’s book, visit butterfly.org.uk.
Mark’s JustGiving page fundraising for the BTCT remains at justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-evo-evans
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