20 May 2026 •
Local rail operator c2c Railway has partnered with Essex-based cancer charity Lady McAdden to raise funds and awareness of breast cancer.
Lady McAdden volunteers were on site at Leigh on Sea station on Tuesday afternoon (19 May) to meet customers and raise additional funds through a bucket collection. c2c colleagues supported the team throughout, helping to promote the initiative to customers travelling through the station, with the team raising £310 in total.
As part of the collaboration, Lady McAdden has installed one of its Big Pink Bra Bins at Leigh-on-Sea station, giving customers and the local community an easy way to donate unwanted bras to support the charity’s services. The donation bin will remain at the station until the end of May.
Donations can be old or new, worn or unworn, wired or non-wired, in any size and any colour. Bras in good condition are re-sold in its charity shops and the remainder are responsibly recycled, helping to keep textiles out of landfill while raising vital funds.
c2c Customer Delivery Manager Louise Williams, said:
“We’re proud to have partnered with Lady McAdden to support local breast cancer services and help raise awareness across the communities we serve. By hosting the Big Pink Bra Bin at Leigh-on-Sea station until the end of May, we’re making it easy for customers and neighbours to donate unwanted bras and help fund vital specialist nurse appointments and wellbeing support. Every donation, of any size or condition, can make a real difference.”
Lady McAdden is based in Essex and supports anyone before, during and after breast cancer. As an independent charity, it relies on donations, fundraising and grant funding to provide one-to-one nurse appointments and wellbeing support, both remotely and face to face.
Esther Taylor, CEO of Lady McAdden Breast Cancer Trust, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to c2c for giving us this opportunity to fundraise at Leigh-on-Sea station and connect with the local community.
“Partnerships like this are so important in helping us raise awareness of the support we provide before, during and after breast cancer. Being able to speak to people face to face, share what we do, and encourage simple acts like donating can make a real difference to the lives of those affected.
“Every conversation, every donation and every moment of awareness helps us continue providing vital nurse-led services and wellbeing support to our community.”
About the McAdden Sanctuary
The McAdden Sanctuary was created in response to conversations with people diagnosed with breast cancer, recognising that support needs to go beyond the medical. It offers emotional and holistic support through gentle classes (such as Pilates and meditation), wellbeing therapies (including oncology massage, reflexology and counselling) and opportunities to connect through creative sessions and group discussions.
Led by specialist nurses and wellbeing professionals, the Sanctuary provides a calm space to feel safe, supported and heard during treatment and recovery. Services are tailored specifically to support the breast cancer treatment process and promote longer-term wellbeing.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About c2c
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
About DFTO
- DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027.
- The group’s current train operating companies are: c2c, Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and WM Trains (London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway).
- DFTO runs more than 8,500 services each weekday and delivers more than 660 million customer journeys across its networks every year.
About Lady MacAdden
Lady McAdden Breast Cancer Trust is an independent Essex based charity supporting individuals before, during and after a breast cancer diagnosis.
Through its specialist nurse led services and holistic wellbeing support, the charity provides accessible care to those affected, both remotely and in person. This includes one to one appointments, guidance throughout treatment, support for long-term recovery and services at the McAdden Sanctuary.
More information can be found at https://ladymcadden.org/
Images:
Featured Image: Esther Taylor – CEO, Emily Morris – Operations Manager, Angela Fiore – Nurse. Lauren Chantler – Engagement and Comms officer, Tasha Thor-Straten – Events Manger, Chrissy Nichols – Chair of Trustees.