York fundraiser’s Pink Tie Ball raises more than £15,000 for breast cancer unit

15 MAY 2026

A local woman who turned her own breast cancer experience into years of fundraising for others has raised more than £15,000 in a single night for the Breast Unit at York Hospital.

Sarah Dargue, who has supported York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity since 2021, organised her first-ever Pink Tie Ball in April - combining her passion for fundraising with her love of Robbie Williams.

The event raised an incredible £15,381, taking Sarah’s overall fundraising total to more than £35,000 in support of the Breast Unit within the Magnolia Centre at York Hospital.

Sarah began fundraising after receiving treatment for breast cancer at the Magnolia Centre. Once her treatment finished, she decided to channel what she calls her “life’s passion for fundraising” into helping other people facing similar experiences.

What started with selling knitted woolly hats quickly grew into years of fundraising challenges alongside family and colleagues from Scarborough Fire Station, including taking part in the York 10k, Scarborough 10k and even the Great North Run.

A lifelong Robbie Williams fan, Sarah has travelled across the world attending concerts over the years and developed a close friendship with renowned tribute act Dan Budd, who performed at the Pink Tie Ball.

Sarah poured herself into every detail of the evening, with Robbie Williams-themed décor, photo backdrops and tables named after songs from his back catalogue helping to create what guests described as a fun and uplifting atmosphere.

One of the biggest moments of the night came when the real Robbie Williams surprised guests with a personal video message for Sarah, which was played during the event. Friends and supporters described the moment as emotional and completely unexpected - with the message recognising Sarah’s incredible fundraising efforts and the difference she is making for patients at York Hospital.

Alongside Dan Budd’s performance, the evening also included a key raffle with a £1,000 cash prize, an auction and a heads-and-tails game - all helping to raise vital funds for the Breast Unit.

Sarah is now preparing to return to the Magnolia Centre to present a cheque to Dr Mancey-Jones, who she describes as “the man who saved my life”.

Emma Sargent, Fundraising Manager at York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity, said:
“Sarah’s fundraising journey has been nothing short of incredible. She has taken a deeply personal experience and turned it into something positive that is helping so many other people going through breast cancer treatment."

“The Pink Tie Ball was such a special evening and a real reflection of Sarah’s personality, energy and determination. Raising more than £15,000 in one night is an amazing achievement, and we’re so grateful for the time, care and effort she put into making it such a success."

“And to top it all off, having Robbie Williams send a personal video message was a brilliant moment for everyone there - especially for Sarah. You could see how much it meant. It really captured the spirit of the evening and made an unforgettable night even more special.”