Miss Durham Nicole Hanson has raised £1,270 for Cancer Research UK by bringing together her two passions: pageantry and motorsport. Her Charity Show & Shine at The Alloy Wheel Workshop in Team Valley attracted more than 65 cars, with enthusiasts travelling from Durham, Gateshead, surrounding parts of the North East and even Scotland.
The event was created by Nicole during her first year as Miss Durham and was held to celebrate the opening of The Alloy Wheel Workshop. Entry fees and raffle proceeds were donated to the charity, while awards were presented for Best Paint, Best Wheels, Best Interior and Hidden Gem.
A car community fundraiser in Team Valley
Nicole is known in the local automotive community as an Abarth enthusiast and Fiat 500 fan. She used her social-media audience of more than 8,000 followers to connect car culture with beauty pageantry and promote the fundraiser.
The event received support from Spud Detailing, which donated raffle prizes. HB Vinyls, H2O Hydrogen Engine Cleaning and Bigby Studios helped produce the meet stickers and trophies. The Alloy Wheel Workshop donated a full wheel refurbishment as a prize, and demand was so strong that Nicole ran out of raffle tickets.
The day also gave people attending the meet an opportunity to share personal experiences of cancer with Nicole, adding a personal dimension to the fundraising effort.
Fundraiser honours Nicole’s great-grandad
Nicole said the cause had a personal meaning after she lost her great-grandad, whom she described as being more like her grandad, to a brain tumour when she was 13.
“He was the funniest man alive,” she said. “One of the hardest things is knowing he never got to see the woman I’ve become. I wanted this event to honour his memory, but also everyone who has lost someone to cancer.”
Although her Miss Durham role has included studio shoots and formal dresses, Nicole said much of her reign has instead involved car meets and track days. She described herself as more comfortable in a hoodie and leggings than with hair and make-up, and said she wanted to show what pageantry could achieve beyond its glamorous image.
“Yes, I’ve done a few studio shoots and posed in some lovely dresses, but the majority of my reign has been spent standing in fields looking at cars or at track days,” she laughed. “I wouldn’t even say I’m a girly girl. I’m rubbish at hair and makeup and generally live in a hoodie and leggings!”
Nicole said that, if she won Miss Great Britain, she would like to educate the car scene about the positive work pageantry can support.
Abseil planned before Miss Great Britain final
Her fundraising will continue on October 2, when she plans to abseil down the Francis Crick building at King’s Cross. The challenge will take place two weeks before the Miss Great Britain final, where she will represent Durham on October 16.
A car is among the prizes for the eventual Miss Great Britain winner, sponsored by The Vehicle Consultancy. Nicole said winning it would be a fitting outcome for someone who has combined her Miss Durham title with her enthusiasm for cars.
“I’m hoping to finish my Miss Durham journey on a high — literally!”
She said she would love to win the crown, but was currently focused on representing Durham and seeing what happens at the final.