A support group for women with gynaecological cancers raised funds with their face painting skills at this year’s Dorset Food and Arts Festival.

Launched in March 2015 in Poundbury, the GO Girls group provides support for women with gynaecological cancer and their families in Dorset. 

The GO Girls face painting team, the Glitter GO Girls, proved endlessly popular at this year’s festival. 

Despite the rain the team painted over 40 faces, creating lions, tigers, butterflies and princesses.

Chair of the GO Girls and gynae-oncology clinical nurse specialist at Dorset County Hospital, Hilary Maxwell said: “Since we set up the Glitter GO Girls, we are getting more and more popular, everyone is asking us to attend their events. 

“Thanks must go to the Duchy of Cornwall for organising such a great event and letting us be a part of it. We had fun, the kids had fun and the parents had a breather.” 

Leader of the Glitter GO Girls, Natalee Kavanagh, whose mum, Jan Hinton, died of ovarian cancer last December said: “We just love creating happy faces. The kids were great on the day, so well behaved. We got a tad wet, but kept the kids dry and it didn’t stop us having a great day and raising money to support the GO Girls.”

The GO Girls group was set up by Ms Maxwell and patient Gill Harler in response to the growing number of women affected by gynaecological cancers.

As well as fundraising and hosting events, the GO Girls team offers meetings where woman can share experiences, advice and support as well as enjoy each other’s company. 

Ms Maxwell said: “We try to give some normality to women and their families. This is what they told us they wanted and we infect them with our GO Girl giggles and fun at a time in their lives when it would all be too easy to sink. We lift them up and surround them with our GO Girl hugs."

The GO Girls team, which now has almost 700 members across the UK and worldwide, is currently raising funds for the Cancer Appeal and to continue their work supporting women after diagnosis. 

GO Girls vice chairman, Teresa Wolff, said: “We are very lucky to have such an incredible team. Most of our team are not well and they should be so proud of what they contribute. We so value their support and thanks must go to Diane Day, Anne Williams and Ann and Rod Elfgren who helped provide practical support on the day.

“Every day we are being supported by new companies and organisations in Dorset. We couldn’t be prouder of our Dorset roots and we cannot thank those who support us enough."

To make a donation visit justgiving.com/fundraising/just10gogirls

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e: caroline.lewis@dorsetecho.co.uk
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