Big Pink Dress Man says thank you to South Tyneside NHS workers for saving his life

Big Pink Dress returns to fundraising in support of NHS staff who are battling to save lives during the Coronavirus pandemic

In light of Covid-19, Colin Burgin-Plews, who quit his charity work in 2019 to spend more time with his family, organised his 10k Rainbow Dress NHS Walk to say thank you for the support he received while suffering heart probems last year.

The walk which began at 9.10am, on Saturday, April 4, saw Colin leave South Tyneside Hospital and zig-zag his way through the streets of South Shields to make his way towards Horsley Hill in aid of the NHS Charities Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.

Colin said afterwards: “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for keeping their social distancing rules, it’s been amazing – and a big thank you to everyone for their donations and things, you guys are amazing, you really are.”

‘Big Pink Dress’ Colin says he is blown away by the community spirit in South Shields and that he is so proud of his hometown as they rally behind him in support of his 10k Rainbow Dress NHS Walk.

“Today I’ve been blow away by the community spirit in South Shields.”

Colin was rushed to South Tyneside District Hospital in July last year after suffering a problem with a valve in his heart and high blood pressure.

He says the inspiration behind the walk is to say “thank you” to the health heroes who saved his life.

Colin went on to say: “I just want to say how proud I am of my hometown – I reckon we’ve got close to £800 and in two, three days that’s absolutely amazing. I’m so, so proud of you.”

Big Pink Dress Man Colin has been fundraising since 2014 – raising more than £104,000 for charity and has wearing 56 dresses along the way

But he confessed that this was one of the most difficult walks he has ever done because of all the different streets he walked down.

He added: “Thank you for all the support and the messages and thank you to everyone who put clothes on, because about 80% of the streets were wearing pyjamas but do you know what fair play to you.”

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