Charity champion Big Pink Dress man's heartfelt thank you to supporters as he reflects on 'one of his toughest' years

Best known for his incredible fundraising efforts taking on sporting events while wearing weird and wonderful dresses, Colin Burgin-Plews has raised more than £120,000 for charity, since he launched the Big Pink Dress five years ago.

Throughout 2019 alone he has managed to raise around £19,000, despite battling a health scare for much of the year.

In July the 50-year-old was rushed to hospital, suffering a problem with a valve in his heart and high blood pressure.

But despite fears that he wouldn’t be able to take part in the Great North Run, he was given the all clear just in time and completed the race in aid of South Tyneside charity KAYAKS.

“It’s been one of my toughest this year as Big Pink Dress, I’ve been in hospital about four times, but on the other hand the support I have had has been unbelievable. This is what I love about what I do, you see the great side of people,” he said.

And there was light at the end of the tunnel, as Colin went onto win the ITV Tyne Tees Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the Year award in October.

Now back to good health he says he is “taking every day as it comes and living life to the full”.

“I lost a few friends this year and it makes you realise there’s more to life than moaning about Brexit,” he said.

Despite previously announcing he would retire from fundraising after this year, he has numerous events lined up for 2020.

In January he will start training for the London Marathon, which he is completing for Macmillan in his first ever contactless dress. He will also take part in the Great North Run, this time for for Oasis Community Housing, and the Great Manchester Run for Darcy’s Dream.

Colin added: “I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me.

“The people in South Shields and the North East have been incredible, without their support it would be totally pointless. They kept me going when things were tough.”