"Very much a celebration" - the special reason why bras decorated trees at this Ribble Valley music festival
“I couldn’t let the 10th anniversary pass by without a celebration and to give something back to Rosemere to say thank you for my treatment.”
A tree strewn with hundreds of bras in all colours, sizes and styles signposted ticket-holders to a special music festival that has raised more than £15,0000 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.
Brookfest was held at Brookside Farm in Thornley, near Chipping, home to Jenny and Anthony Lambert, who keep chickens and also run an on-site shop that sells their eggs and other local produce.
A decade ago aged just 32, Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo surgery at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Rosemere Cancer Centre before being given the all clear.
Jenny said: “My diagnosis came as a complete shock as I was young, fit and no one in my family had had cancer but I couldn’t let the 10th anniversary pass by without a celebration and to give something back to Rosemere to say thank you for my treatment. I planned Brookfest as very much a celebration. What’s important in life is making good memories with those we love and that’s what Brookfest was about more than anything.”
Many of the almost 500 festival goers, which included family, friends and farm shop customers, were transported to and from Brookfest via a free bus service operated by Longridge’s Bretherton’s Gold Line Tours.
Once there, the crowd was entertained by a line-up of 14 local vocalists and bands, who all donated their time and talent, performing from a stage fashioned from a converted trailer. Everyone was kept fed and watered by Nicky and Duncan Crosby, of Longridge micro-brewery Tap & Vent and a trio of food vendors, which also all made donations.
Jenny added: “There were so many people who helped us with Brookfest that they are just too numerous to mention. We had someone mow the field where we put the stage as well as others who helped by putting up bunting and decorating the bra tree.
“Many of our farm shop customers made donations and also donated their old bras for the tree. I cut some so they had just the one cup but the idea behind the tree was to celebrate female empowerment, girl power. We are so grateful to everyone who made Brookfest the fantastic event it was. We’ve been asked to hold it again so we’ll have to see what happens in the future.”
Hannah Leahy, fundraising assistant for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, who attended Brookfest on behalf of the charity, said: “Congratulations to Jenny, Anthony and everyone, who made Brookfest such a special event. We are very grateful for the fantastic donation raised, which I think it is fair to say exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
Rosemere Cancer Foundation
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and South Cumbria’s regional specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, as well as at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties, including that at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.
The charity funds the latest in cutting-edge equipment, clinical research, staff training and innovative services and initiatives that the NHS cannot afford in order to make patients' cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk