Big Pink Dress set to retire from fundraising efforts

Colin Burgin-Plews, aka the Big Pink Dress, in his latest handcrafted creation after completing the Great North Run 2018.

Colin Burgin-Plews says he will bring his five years of fundraising to end in September next year - after completing the Great North Run in aid of his chosen charity Breast Cancer Now.BTo mark his final year, Colin, 50, is gearing up to take on the mammoth task of gathering 12,000 names to put on a dress to represent those who have been diagnosed with cancer but don’t survive.

Colin, from Talbot Road, South Shields, said: “I have been thinking about stopping for a while and have decided that I need to spend more time with my wife, my family and my kid.

“So I have decided that now it is time for the family and I will finally end next year at the Great North Run, when it will be five years to the day.”

He added: “I am not saying I will never do it again, but I’m saying that’s it for now.”

Colin’s incredible fundraising efforts have seen him raise thousands of pounds for charity and spend all of his weekends travelling to and taking part in charity events. The dedicated fundraiser even makes his own frocks and has gained a great following of supporters who love to see his creations.

He added: “I just thought I need to do this now or it will carry on forever.

Pink Big Dress Colin Burgin-Plews in his last London Marathon dress.

“It has been lovely, but I need some time to rest.

“But I have signed up to do the Great North Run for the next three years under the Big Pink Dress even if I just do it as myself!”

Colin’s next big challenge will be the London Marathon in April.

He is currently gathering 12,000 names to put on his next creation and has already gathered 200 names in his first week of the appeal.

The names will represent a man or woman who has sadly lost their battle with cancer.

In a video appeal for names, Colin explains the significance of the number.

He said: “A marathon takes approximately 50,000 steps which is the same amount of women in the UK each year who will be told they have breast cancer.

“Unfortunately 12,000 of those women won’t make it, which equates in a marathon to every step for the last 6.25 miles, which is mind-blowing to me.

“I want to show the world what 12,000 women’s names looks like who didn’t make it with breast cancer.”